New MPs voting against party on Welfare Bill

Cat Smith

The 30-yearold MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood is a former union official who describes herself as a “socialist, feminist, Christian, environmentalist, republican and proud Northerner.” She studied Sociology and Gender Studies at Lancaster University and worked as a researcher for Jeremy Corbyn before unseating the Conservative Eric Ollerenshaw. She argues that although she voted against the whip, she did not vote against “the spirit of the party”.

Tulip Siddiq

Described as “one of the rising stars of the Labour Party”, the 32-year-old niece and granddaughter of two Bangladeshi prime ministers narrowly defeated her Conservative challenger in the UK’s most marginal seat to become MP for Hampstead and Kilburn. She has worked on highprofile political campaigns both at home and abroad, including Barack Obama’s 2008 presidency bid and Ed Miliband’s Labour leadership battle. She opposed the Welfare Bill on the grounds it would “cause harm to families”.

Richard Burgon

The former trade union lawyer was elected after replacing the veteran Blairite George Mudie as Labour candidate for Leeds East. The Cambridge graduate has attracted controversy from the start, as he called for an end to the monarchy before being sworn in. He received endorsements from four big unions and remains one of their strongest proponents, sponsoring Commons passes for Steve Turner, Unite’s assistant general secretary, and Mariela Kohon, a leading Colombian campaigner.

Clive Lewis

The 43-yearold ousted the Lib Dem Simon Wright to become MP for Norwich South. The former soldier and BBC correspondent won by a clear majority, after boasting during his campaign that the only way he would lose was if he were to be “caught with my pants down behind a goat with Ed Miliband at the other end”. The Welfare Bill is not Mr Lewis’s first rebellion; he has broken party lines on issues including nuclear weapons and immigration. He is an opponent of austerity and cuts, and is a member of three unions.