CANDIDATES who have previously served as MPs have defended their voting record in the House of Parliament.

Will Quince, who has spent the last two years as MP, has only voted against the Government once – when he voted in favour of a motion to bring 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children from other European countries into the UK.

He said: “Whilst It is true I have only voted against the Government once, I am proud on other issues where I have raised my concerns such as tax credits and the forced academisation of primary schools, the Government listened and changed their position.

“It is always difficult to vote against your Government and to walk into a different voting lobby to your friends and colleagues.

“However, listening to the debate and the speeches made, I felt that inaction was not an option and do not regret my decision.”

Mr Quince said he voted to a reduction in welfare benefits for financial reasons.

He said: “Difficult decisions have had to be made to get the country’s spending back under control.

“However, whilst I have supported the Government’s welfare reform program, I have always made sure to raise my concerns where I believe proposals have been wrong, such as on tax credits and personal independent payment changes.”

Mr Quince and predecssor Sir Bob Russell voted for welfare cuts.

Sir Bob said: “ At the time the Coalition came into power in 2010 there was a deficit left by Labour with total borrowing at £155 billion a year, running up the national debt to an unsustainable rate.

“Given the sheer size of the welfare budget, and commitments to protect budgets such as health, it was impossible to tackle the deficit without affecting welfare.

“Nevertheless, in Coalition we restrained the Conservatives from making the draconian policies we have seen since 2015.”

Sir Bob voted against his own party several times during his 18 year tenure, and more so during his final five years as an MP.

He said: “You have to remember you have colleagues whose views also need to be considered, but I did not lose any sleep when those occasions occurred. “There is a difference between voting either for or against an issue which arises and voting against specific matters in the Party Manifesto where serious discussions need to be held.

“I did not regard my role as an MP to climb the greasy pole seeking political preferment and advancement by toadying to the Party Whips in the hope of getting a Ministerial job.”