The benefit cut that isn’t quite as it seems

MPs are voting on the Welfare Reform and Work Bill this afternoon, with the big story being about Labour turmoil over the second reading. Harriet Harman’s amendment looks rather forlorn on the order paper this morning, with just five frontbenchers signed up to support it. Helen Goodman, who was explaining why she was pressing ahead with her own rebel amendment on this morning’s Today programme, has 57 MPs — not all of them Labour — supporting her motion.

The difference between the two amendments is mainly that Goodman’s declines to give a second reading to the Bill and offers only the ‘potentially useful provisions on apprenticeships’ in its favour, while Harman’s declines to give a second reading while expressing support for the benefits cap and loans for mortgage interest, and opposing measures on child poverty and cuts to employment and support allowance.

The Tories are enjoying the Labour turmoil, with George Osborne effectively trolling the Opposition in today’s Guardian by urging them to support his changes.