South Lakes MP Tim Farron voted in favour of a parliamentary motion calling for the Government to scrap plans to cut Universal Credit.

A £20-a-week increase in Universal Credit was introduced last year to help families cope during the Covid-19 pandemic, but that is set to expire at the end of March.

The motion was passed by 278 votes to none, with every party in the House of Commons voting in favour of the motion apart from the Conservatives, who abstained.

Mr Farron said: “While the rollout of vaccines means that the end of this crisis is now in sight, local families still face months of real hardship.

“Cutting away support to those most in need at this very difficult time would be absolutely unthinkable.

“I really hope that last night’s vote puts pressure on the Government to wake up and change their mind – desperate families across the South Lakes are counting on it.”

Six Tory MPs defied party orders to abstain and voted with Labour, adding to the pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson with this issue.

The Northern Research Group of Conservative MPs pushed the Prime Minister before the vote on Monday, which was non-binding, and it is something they are going to continue to fight for according to Barrow's MP.

Simon Fell defended his decision to abstain on the vote after he received heavy criticism from the Barrow and Furness Constituency Labour Party.

He said: "I think that the uplift should remain while the pandemic continues to bite.

"It has made all the difference to many families and individuals in Furness.

"It's right that this should be considered at the budget rather than just because the opposition asks for it.

"My colleagues and I will continue to fight for this.

"Frankly, Labour's response around this has been awful – nothing has been cut as a result of this meaningless vote, but you wouldn't believe it from the scaremongering they've put out online which serves no one but them."