BOTH borough MPs voted with PM Boris Johnson's beleaguered government and helped avoid defeat on an amendment to the social care reform bill.

Nineteen Tory MPs joined Labour to vote against the change and dozens of others stayed away.

Although the prime minister's proposal eventually cleared the House of Commons by a margin of 272-246, the majority of 26 was well below Mr Johnson's 80-seat majority.

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price, who recently voted against the government in the debate over sleaze and Owen Paterson, and South Basildon and East Thurrock MP Stephen Metcalfe, who missed the Paterson vote, voted for the change last night (Monday, 22November).

Under the plan:

•anyone with assets of less than £20,000 will not have to pay anything towards the cost of help with things like washing and dressing at home or a stay in a care home from October 2023

•those with more than £100,000 in assets - the value of their home, savings or investments - pay everything up to a maximum of £86,000

•people with assets of £100,000 or less can qualify for council help to pay but the new change means they will eventually have to pay up to £86,000 out of their own pocket too.