Calls for Brent Central MP Sarah Teather to resign over vote failure

Tara Brady

Published: 5:07 PM February 8, 2012

Updated: 9:15 PM October 15, 2020

Liberal Democrat politican missed ballot on welfare reforms

A Brent MP has faced criticism and calls to resign after failing to turn up to vote on the Government’s welfare reforms.

A spokesman for Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central and Children’s Minister, said she was on “ministerial business attending meetings on special educational needs” when the votes took place in the House of Commons.

The reforms, which have been described as the biggest welfare shake-up for 60 years, include capping the amount of benefits any family can receive at �26,000.

The votes were considered extremely important.

But a spokesman for Miss Teather, said: “It is normal and routine for ministers to be slipped for votes.

“There were Tory ministers who were absent for the same votes including William Hague Secretary of State for the Foreign Office, Francis Maude, Minister for Cabinet Office and Nick Herbert, Minister of State for Police and Criminal Justice among others.”