BISHOP Auckland Tory MP Dehenna Davison broke ranks to abstain from voting for the Government’s controversial health and social care levy saying all avenues should be explored to make it the "fairest system" for her constituents.

Ms Davison took to Twitter to explain her motives, after Boris Johnson won the backing of MPs for his plan, amid a growing backlash from experts and professionals who warned it will fail to fix the urgent crisis in the care system.

Despite the concerns of some Conservative MPs about breaching their manifesto commitment not to increase national insurance contributions (NICs), a motion approving the £12bn a year package passed by 319 votes to 248 on Wednesday evening, a majority of 71.

Ms Davison said: “People are asking why I am abstaining today rather than voting against the Health and Social Care Levy this evening.

“I don’t feel there has been enough time to engage with my constituents to gauge their concerns, and to engage with ministers to raise them. And I believe we need to see a bit more detail too.

“In principle, I back the Government’s plan to finally fix social care after decades of it being kicked down the road, so won’t vote against it.

“But I can’t vote for this plan yet without ensuring all avenues have been explored to make this the fairest system for my constituents.”

Meanwhile Easington MP Grahame Morris has spoken at his frustration and anger at not being able to vote by proxy – having been required to self-isolate after testing positive for Covid.

He tweeted: “Unfortunately, I have recently tested positive for Covid so I am currently required to self-isolate. The proxy voting system whereby an MP could cast a vote on behalf of another has now been suspended for those who are self-isolating.

“Taxes will have to rise in order to fund social care, but this is not by any means the fairest way to do it. I would have voted against the Government’s plans to penalise young people and low earners by increasing NI contributions.

"The pandemic is not over. Thousands are still testing positive for Covid every day.

“I think it is outrageous that the voices of Easington and my East Durham constituents cannot be heard or recorded tonight.”

The division list also showed 37 Conservative MPs did not record a vote on the Government’s NHS and social care tax rise plan.

This does not automatically mean they all abstained – as some could have been given permission by the whips to miss the vote.

Former ministers Jake Berry and Steve Baker were among those to declare during the debate they could not support the motion – therefore abstaining in the vote.

Five Tory MPs rebelled to oppose the Government’s NHS and social care tax rise plan, according to the division list.

They were Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch), Philip Davies (Shipley), Neil Hudson (Penrith and The Border), Esther McVey (Tatton) and Sir John Redwood (Wokingham).

Labour’s amendment calling for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to publish an impact assessment of the national insurance increase was rejected by 335 votes to 243, majority 92.

The Opposition had asked for Mr Sunak to detail before April 2022 how the tax hike would affect jobs and businesses, and also the distributional impact of the measures on different income groups and regions.

HOW YOUR MP VOTED

NO

Brown, Mr Nicholas

Labour

Newcastle upon Tyne East

Campbell, Sir Alan

Labour

Tynemouth

Foy, Mary Kelly

Labour

City of Durham

Glindon, Mary

Labour

North Tyneside

Hodgson, Mrs Sharon

Labour

Washington and Sunderland West

Jones, Mr Kevan

Labour

North Durham

Lavery, Ian

Labour

Wansbeck

Lewell-Buck, Mrs Emma

Labour

South Shields

Maskell, Rachael

Labour (Co-op)

York Central

McKinnell, Catherine

Labour

Newcastle upon Tyne North

Mearns, Ian

Labour

Gateshead

Onwurah, Chi

Labour

Newcastle upon Tyne Central

Osborne, Kate

Labour

Jarrow

Phillipson, Bridget

Labour

Houghton and Sunderland South

Twist, Liz

Labour

Blaydon

YES

Gibson, Peter

Conservative

Darlington

Goodwill, Mr Robert

Conservative

Scarborough and Whitby

Holden, Mr Richard

Conservative

North West Durham

Hollinrake, Kevin

Conservative

Thirsk and Malton

Howell, Paul

Conservative

Sedgefield

Jones, Andrew

Conservative

Harrogate and Knaresborough

Levy, Ian

Conservative

Blyth Valley

Mortimer, Jill

Conservative

Hartlepool

Smith, Julian

Conservative

Skipton and Ripon

Sunak, Rishi

Conservative

Richmond (Yorks)

Trevelyan, Anne-Marie

Conservative

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Young, Jacob

Conservative

Redcar

NO VOTE RECORDED

Davison, Dehenna

Conservative

Bishop Auckland

McDonald, Andy

Labour

Middlesbrough

Morris, Grahame

Labour

Easington

Sturdy, Julian

Conservative

York Outer

 

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