TWO Scottish MPs were among the 13 who voted against Theresa May's motion calling for an early general election.
They were Independent Nationalists Natalie McGarry, who represents Glasgow East, and Michelle Thomson, who represents Edinburgh West. Their fellow Nationalists in the SNP abstained as did a handful of Labour MPs.
Ms Thomson said: “In general terms, abstaining doesn't always clearly demonstrate intent and in this specific case I felt it was important to state clearly that I was against.
“These are turbulent times, particularly in the light of the vote in England and Wales for Brexit and I have to question the motivation of The Tories. I am particularly concerned about their being elected once more with a larger majority and the possibility of even less scrutiny of the Great Repeal Bill, which we know has the potential to introduce new laws with limited scrutiny,” she added.
The 13 included nine Labour MPs: Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley); Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley); Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme); Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse); Clive Lewis (Norwich South); Fiona Mactaggart (Slough); Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton); Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton) and Dennis Skinner (Bolsover).
The others were Independent Lady Hermon (North Down) and the SDLP’s Alasdair McDonnell (Belfast South) while his party colleagues Margaret Ritchie (South Down) and Mark Durkan (Foyle) acted as tellers for the Noes.
The motion, which needed a two-thirds majority to pass, did so easily.
Of the 522 MPs who supported it, 325 were Conservatives and 174 Labour.
Eight of the nine Liberal Democrat MPs voted in favour of the motion, with former leader Nick Clegg the one not listed.
Those who also voted Aye included the eight Democratic Unionist Party MPs, three Plaid Cymru, two Ulster Unionist Party, Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas and Independent MP Simon Danczuk (Rochdale).
Tellers for the Ayes were Tory MPs Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) and Jackie Doyle-Price (Thurrock).
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