Lib Dem peers help inflict Lords defeat over Coalition’s benefit cap plan

by Stephen Tall on January 23, 2012

The BBC reports the result of tonight’s defeat for the Coalition in the House of Lords over the controversial government plans to introduce a £500 a week benefit cap:

The government has been defeated in the Lords in a vote on its plans for a £26,000-a-year household benefit cap. Lib Dem, Labour and crossbench peers backed a bishop’s amendment by 252 to 237 that child benefit should not be included in the cap. Critics argued that imposing the same cap on all families, regardless of size, would penalise children. The government said it was “very disappointed” and the vote “clearly flies in the face of public opinion”.

Lib Dem peers split 26 in favour of the amendment (and therefore against the Coalition) and 39 against the amendment (and therefore backing the Coalition position).

Here’s the named vote…

Lib Dem peers who voted for the amendment:

Lib Dem peers who voted against the amendment:

* Stephen Tall is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, and also writes at his own site, The Collected Stephen Tall.

3 comments • Tagged as: benefits, libdemvoice, News, Parliament
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