Michael Docherty, 77, was reacting to Gemma Doyle’s decision to vote in favour of a welfare cap, which critics say could hit working families, pensioners, and those on disability benefits hardest.

Michael has worked all his life and took early retirement in 1994 from Strathclyde Regional Council to care for his wife.

Sadly she passed away five-and-a-half years ago and Michael moved to supported accommodation in Alexandria for company. He has grown up in the region and has seen it evolve.

FOOD BANKS However, instead of prospering, he says the area has faltered and is now one where some people are reliant on food banks, hand outs, and benefits. But Michael says, instead of helping in the area’s hour of need, Labour has made things worse.

He told the Reporter: “It’s terrible — it’s a stab in the back to be honest. I don’t expect any Labour member to vote along with the Tories and I expect better from Labour in general.

“I am quite left-wing and I’m not ashamed of that, but it hurts me to see the state of the Labour party. Gemma Doyle has no right whatsoever to betray people’s votes by voting in favour of the benefit cap. I voted for her and I feel betrayed. ” Last month MPs overwhelmingly backed plans to introduce an overall cap on the amount the UK spends on welfare to £119.5 billion next year – that excludes state pension and some unemployment benefits.

With Labour supporting the idea, the measure was approved in the House of Commons by 520 to 22 votes – a vote that saw just 13 Labour MPs vote against the cap.

“I’m a member of the biggest political party in Britain – the Disillusioned Labour Party,” Michael told us. “It hasn’t been the same party I have known and supported all my life since Tony Blair came in. It’s nothing like the Labour party of old.

“Gemma Doyle should not be voting with the Tories on any issue, but especially on issues as sensitive to the area she serves. She hasn’t even got the courtesy to come here and explain that.

“This is an area where unemployment and benefits is a huge issue.

“There are old people who are struggling to heat their homes, suffering from pneumonia and hypothermia.” Ms Doyle’s decision to vote in favour of the cap enraged residents in Dumbarton and the Vale and neighbouring Clydebank, who were left questioning why she would choose to vote in favour of policies that damage the welfare of her constituents.

It’s one Michael cannot fathom. “People say Margaret Thatcher made greed acceptable,” he added. “but they should have named New Labour the Neoconservative party.

“Gemma Doyle doesn’t know the area. This is a place people use food banks and she needs to at least entertain the questions people are asking.

“She needs to address the issues people are worried about.” Michael started working in 1951 with the Torpedo factory, joining a trade union at the same time, remaining a supporter ever since.

SHAMBLES “It’s sad it’s like this and that Labour are in such a shambles. If Gemma Doyle was sitting where you are now, I’d be asking her to tell me her plans for cold winter payments, about the benefits system. I’m not on benefits, but I don’t forget what I’ve fought for all my life, which is the best for the working class.

“I’d be telling her we don’t want nuclear weapons in this area, we want a ship yard that works.

“It’s a perfectly good ship yard and we want it to be a place that works and builds or repairs ships. If anything goes wrong, we’ll be the first to get it.

“Labour need to get their act together and kick out these Neo Tories.

“We need a good Labour party in this area that fights for its people – but they’re too busy fighting against the SNP and independence.” HOWEVER, last week, Gemma Doyle responded to her critics and justified her decision to the Reporter.

Gemma Doyle MP has reacted to comments she has betrayed Labour supporters and the people of Dumbarton and the Vale.

Ms Doyle has been subject to an angry backlash from Labour supporters and constituents for voting in line with the Conservatives over a welfare cap.

Defending her decision, the MP said she disagreed with ‘many’ of the Conservative Government’s welfare policies.

Speaking to the Reporter, she said: “I believe the Tories have made the wrong choices in office and are presiding over a system whereby we are seeing punitive sanctions being used to punish rather than help those on welfare.

“There is a great deal of misinformation circulating about this vote. This is not a cap on anyone’s individual benefits and it doesn’t involve any specific cuts to the welfare budget.

“Neither is it a Labour/SNP issue as Alex Salmond himself has said that a welfare cap is ‘a reasonable thing to have.’ The next Labour Government will spend limited resources in a fairer way, and will tackle the root causes of poverty such as low pay, long-term unemployment and an inadequate supply of housing. I would urge anyone who remains concerned to contact me directly.” She has also reacted angrily to what she says were attempts to mislead her West Dunbartonshire constituents by the SNP.

She told the Reporter: “Every major political party, including the SNP have expressed support for a welfare cap, and to now pretend they are against it is incredibly misleading.

“The SNP is daring to criticise Labour for failing to protect the most vulnerable in society when the entire purpose of having the right approach to social security is so we can better serve those who need help most.

“The SNPs track record speaks for itself. They voted down a Labour proposal to ensure that Scottish workers employed on public sector contracts were guaranteed the Living Wage.”