The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Non-vote by Tories slammed as a ‘shambles’
Abstained: Perthshire MP says decision was ‘utter embarrassment’ for Commons
The decision by Tory MPS to abstain en masse from a vote on Universal Credit has been branded an “anti-democratic shambles”.
A Labour-led motion to pause the welfare roll-out was passed by 299 votes to 0, with Tory MPS instructed to abstain on Wednesday night.
North Perthshire MP Mr Wishart joined those demanding answers from the Government over the vote.
Mr Wishart, the SNP Commons leader, said: “What an anti-democratic shambles and utter embarrassment for this house.
“Just when you thought this Government couldn’t show or demonstrate any more contempt for the democratic arrangements of this house, they’ve gone into that lift and taken us down another couple of levels.
“I don’t know what’s going to be next. It might be they refuse to answer questions from the despatch box. Maybe they’ll even try to abolish all these inconvenient voting opposition parties.
“They might even do the country a favour and abolish themselves, but (Ms Leadsom) has to get a grip and the vacuous nonsense has to stop.”
Former Tory minister Sir Edward Leigh said: “Frankly, the road to tyranny is paved by executives ignoring parliaments, so I do urge (Ms Leadsom) to listen to Parliament. I believe the Secretary of State should come back and make a statement and it should be a statement full of meat.
“Parliament does matter, because if we as Conservatives live by the sword now, our Conservative values in the future might die by the sword.”
Tory backbencher Peter Bone called on Ms Leadsom to introduce what he dubbed the “Leadsom convention”, where ministers would have to respond to a defeat with a statement at the despatch box within 12 weeks.
“On rare occasions I’ve been in trouble with the whip for not voting for Government policy,” Mr Bone said.
“Yesterday would have been the first time had I voted for Government policy that I would have been in trouble.
“We cannot ignore the will of the House.”
Earlier, Ms Leadsom told MPS the Government “is listening and has been listening” on Universal Credit.
“The DWP, as a result of issues raised in this house, has looked again at charges for those using the DWP helpline and have agreed that those charges should be stopped,” she said.
“I can also assure colleagues that the DWP ministers will come back to this house, as they have a number of times, to update the house on progress in addressing the concerns raised from members right across this house.”