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A vote to pause the rollout of the government's disastrous welfare policy has passed as Tory MPs didn't even bother to take part.

Labour called an Opposition Day debate on the policy which has been beset by problems including forcing debt-ridden families to wait six weeks for cash - leaving them at risk of eviction.

Since Theresa May knew she faced at least 25 rebellions from her own side and with a slim working majority of 13 it is believed the Tories whipped their MPs to abstain on the motion.

Tory MPs were accused of “contempt” for the public as they dodged the vote altogether.

Debbie Abrahams who led the debate described the result as a "major defeat" for the government.

Those that were in the House of Commons abstained while 299 Labour MPs and others voted to "pause and fix" Universal Credit.

But the government insisted the vote was not binding.

Earlier today Mrs May had tried to buy off a rebellion against the botched rollout of Universal Credit by scrapping its 55p-a-minute hotline.

But the Prime Minister refused to pause the new benefit.

Anger mounted as her welfare chief David Gauke failed to deny it will cause a “surge” on foodbanks, with Birkenhead asking for 15 tonnes of donations.

The red-faced Work and Pensions Secretary also admitted one in 25 claimants - 2,000 a month - wait more than ten weeks for full payment.

And 52% of people now have to claim an advance on their future benefits to bridge the gap.

Ahead of a planned Commons vote on pausing the rollout, Mr Gauke announced the Universal Credit (UC) helpline will become free within weeks followed by all DWP lines by Christmas.

He also hinted the six-week wait could be brought down, saying there are “choices available to us”.

Yet he warned that would cost money, defended the system and accused Labour of using the vote to “wreck” the benefit.

The Prime Minister, who met worried Tory backbenchers in Downing Street before the debate, claimed “it is a system that is working” despite desperate pleas from charities and MPs.

Disabiliy charity Scope said even when payments roll in, the system leaves some people £400 a month worse off.

And the Resolution Foundation think tank warned it was still “failing” parents, renters and the self-employed.

Labour MPs slammed the system. Angela Eagle warned parents will be “destitute for Christmas Day”, Laura Pidcock said it was either “gross incompetence or calculated cruelty” and Karen Lee, a nurse, branded UC a “direct and deliberate attack on the poor and the vulnerable.”

During the debate many spoke out passionately about the problems facing their constituents.

Newly elected Labour MP Laura Smith recalled when she "survived on cereal" in order to feed her son meals following benefit delays.

The MP for Crewe and Nantwich said she wanted to give colleagues an "insider look" at being a single parent relying on the benefits system.

Ms Smith said: "Not only are you dealing with the trauma of a failed relationship and the difficult process of everyone involved adjusting to the new circumstances, but like me, many can find themselves in extreme financial difficulty where it is easy to become trapped in a spiral of debt and benefit uncertainty while juggling children - in my own case as a teacher."

Ms Smith said it was "heartbreaking" to hear stories from her constituents about "similar problems" due to UC.

Labour's Sarah Jones said primary school numbers in her constituency of Croydon are going down as a "direct result of the implementation of Universal Credit", adding: "The damage this programme has had on our town has meant families are leaving because they cannot afford to stay."

While Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) said since the full roll-out of Universal Credit across all three job centres in Newcastle in March it had possibly doubled the work of her case workers and other local agencies.

She said: "It has been nothing short of a shambles. To roll it out any further without dealing with some of its fundamental failures will just roll out misery for thousands more people."

Jeremy Corbyn declared the rollout a “shambles”, demanding: “Will the Prime Minister now pause UC and fix the problems before pressing ahead?”

(Image: AFP)

Labour’s welfare chief Debbie Abrahams urged Tory MPs to “vote with their conscience” after they lined up to demand a pause.

Tory Heidi Allen said the six-week wait “just doesn’t work”, instead suggested introducing fortnightly payments and sending housing payments straight to landlords.

The outspoken backbencher said she was "disappointed" the Government did not pause the roll-out while some of the issues were resolved as she set out measures to improve Universal Credit.

Colleague Chris Green called for a “very significant” pause and Dr Sarah Wollaston, a GP, said: “I can’t support it moving forward until we’ve addressed those fundamental flaws”.

The debate came hours after welfare chief Mr Gauke faced a fiery hearing of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee.

He prompted anger by claiming just one family had faced eviction by a housing association due to the benefit - despite 1,242 tenants in one borough alone, Southwark, having “eviction-level arrears”.

Research by the National Landlords Association yesterday[WED] showed just one in five private landlords were willing to let to people on UC.

(Image: PA)

Neil Couling, a top civil servant the Department for Work of Pensions, admitted he was “concerned” by claims of eviction threats and had written to the National Housing Federation to remind them people should not be turfed out during the six-week wait.

Caroline Lucas said Tories showed 'contempt for democracy' by avoiding the vote on Universal Credit.

The co-leader of the Green Party, said: "Failing to turn up to today's vote on Universal Credit has revealed a deep contempt for democracy from the Government.

"Ministers know that MPs from all sides are opposed to these changes which are pushing our constituents into hardship, destitution and debt. Yet the Tories are ploughing ahead anyway, and discarding our democracy in the process."

The Lib Dems echoed her sentiment accusing the government of attempting to "subvert our democracy".

Their Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael last week secured an emergency debate in the Commons over whether the government is abusing parliamentary process by ignoring opposition day motions.

He said: “The Conservatives should remember that contempt for Parliament is contempt for the people that elect it.

“To simply ignore today's debate would be an insult to the millions of voters deeply worried about the disastrous roll-out of Universal Credit.

“It is a sign of just how weak and divided this government has become that it is reduced to using every trick in the book to avoid scrutiny and debate."