North-east MP Eilidh Whiteford was one of only two SNP poilticians at Westminster who turned up to vote against the controversial “bedroom tax” yesterday.
The Banff and Buchan representative was joined by Angus MP Mike Weir at the House of Commons in backing a Liberal Democrat-backed bill to overturn key aspects of the Conservative policy.
The Nationalists have come under fire from opponents who have claimed the SNP is putting its plan to end the UK before the welfare of the Scottish people.
Labour helped force Andrew George’s Affordable Homes Bill through a second reading vote by 306 to 231, ensuring the proposed legislation cleared its first hurdle.
Moray MP and leader of the SNP group at Westminster, Angus Robertson, was not present for the vote. Stewart Hosie, Pete Wishart and Brendan MacNeil were also absent.
SNP work and pensions spokesperson Dr Whiteford said: “Every single Scottish MP could vote against the bedroom tax and we would still be faced with it because we can be outvoted by Tory votes from the south.”
Bedroom tax: North-east MP one of just two SNP members to vote
