Copeland's MP claims she would like to see the pay cap on public sector workers lifted – despite voting against the proposal in Parliament.

Trudy Harrison, for the Conservatives, voted against a Labour bid to end cuts to emergency services and public sector pay freeze.

The move has resulted in hospital campaigner and Whitehaven town councillor Siobhan Gearing launching an online petition calling for Mrs Harrison’s resignation. The Change.org petition has already gained around 300 supporters.

Mrs Harrison has defended her actions, saying: “The cap was introduced to deal with our inherited country’s debts and restoring public finances. In order to ensure these services remain fully funded we must ensure our economy is fit for the future.

“Twenty-five per cent of Britain’s workforce is employed in the public sector, meaning the bill for increasing pay, even by a small amount, is enormous. The Institute of Fiscal Studies reports that if we followed Labour’s plan on public sector pay rises, it would cost £54 billion over this Parliament.

She said: “I fully understand the need to reward our vital public sector staff appropriately and would like to see the pay rise lifted as soon as possible. The Independent Pay Review Bodies are carrying out a review and will be reporting to Government with their recommendations.”

In the online petition, Mrs Gearing says the Copeland MP has been elected twice to represent constituents “with promises to rectify the current state of the West Cumberland Hospital and help our emergency services”.

She said: “I have no faith in the woman whatsoever. She voted with the rest of her party to keep the one per cent pay cap. If she wanted to help save our services she would have voted, on behalf of the people of Copeland, not her party. Ultimately I am not bothered what party gets in as long as they actually care about Copeland and do something to help.”

However, Mrs Harrison said “extensive redevelopment” has already begun at West Cumberland Hospital, with work starting on a new diagnostics suite this month.

“I am continuing to work very closely with the North Cumbria Trust and Choose Cumbria to support fully staffed departments,” she added.