Labour MP Nadia Whittome has abstained from voting on an SNP motion to scrap the two-child benefit cap, despite publicly opposing the policy. She explained her decision, saying she was disappointed by the Labour Party's warning that MPs who voted for the amendment would face suspension.
Nadia Whittome says Labour should not become complacent as she describes the party's support at the last general election as shallow. The MP for Nottingham East says she was pleased to see Labour win a landslide number of seats, but has pledged to keep fighting the national party's stance on issues including Gaza. First elected to Parliament in 2019, Nadia Whittome was re-elected at the 2024 general election, though with a slightly reduced share of the vote.
Having been a vocal supporter of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, the Nottingham East MP has been a more critical colleague under Sir Keir Starmer. Many thought that the MP could end up being kicked out of the Labour Party shortly after the election when it came to voting on an SNP motion to scrap the two-child benefit cap. The policy prevents almost all parents from claiming benefits for more than two children and Labour had warned ahead of the vote that any MPs backing it would be suspended. Although Nadia Whittome has been vocal in her opposition to the two-child benefit cap, she ended up abstaining rather than voting for the SNP's amendment. Explaining that decision, the Nottingham MP said: 'I was disappointed that it was made clear to MPs that if we voted for the SNP's amendment, the consequences would be very serious. 'I therefore abstained. I didn't vote with my party, but I didn't vote for the amendment on the basis that the repercussions were made clear to me. I believe that I'm more useful to my constituents on this issue and on other issues inside the party. 'I've publicly said that I don't agree with the way that the whip has been used. I think that suspensions should be reserved for the most serious behaviour, not breaking the whip on an amendment that so much of the party, including our former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, had been advocatin
Labour Party Two-Child Benefit Cap Nadia Whittome SNP Jeremy Corbyn Keir Starmer
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