Labour had called on Lib Dem MPs to defy their Conservative coalition partners and vote against the spare room subsidy. It tabled a motion calling for its abolition, but was defeated by 252 votes to 226. A majority of just 26.
But this could so easily have been defeated had Labour got its act together! Although it was a Labour motion, a shameful 47 Labour MPs failed to vote. These include Welsh Labour’s:
- Geraint Davies (Swansea West)
- Siân James (Swansea East)
- Chris Bryant (Rhondda)
- Paul Flynn (Newport West)
- Ian Lucas (Wrexham)
So yet again, we are tragically let down by Labour.
Bridgend's Green Leftie 
We are investigating why the Swansea Labour MPs didn’t vote, and didn’t tell us they were not going to vote. The party has apperently issued a statement saying all 47 who failed to vote were “paired”, but a lot of people are very unhappy about this.
LikeLike
Dear Sir/Madam,
You should have checked with me before you reprinted this lie which is doing the rounds on the internet. Failing that, you should at least, as a bare minimum, have checked the facts before recycling lies and accusing me of “betrayal”.
Not only was I there for the vote, and voted against the bedroom tax, but I also spoke during the debate on behalf of my constituents, pointing out that not only was the bedroom tax callous, but also downright stupid as it created empty three bedroom properties and ignored the scarcity of smaller properties.
Having brought to your attention the fact you are repeating a lie which has be doing the rounds on the internet, you will of course do the decent thing and publish on your website an apology of the same size and typeface, and a retraction of the accusation that I betrayed my constituents. I expect you to do so immediately. That would be the decent and reasonable thing.
If you fail to do so, I will of course have to consider what other action is available to me to force you to retract these lies and slander.
My thanks, and please email me your response on irrancadaviesh@parliament.uk
Huw Irranca-Davies
LikeLike
I am not sure how this came about, as it seems to be the only error on the list that forwarded to me.
I can only apologise if it has caused you any embarassment. I have posted a reatraction and apology.
Andy Chyba.
LikeLike