A Labour-led bid to scrap the “bedroom tax” was defeated by coalition MPs yesterday.
The controversial welfare reform reduces the benefits of social housing tenants who have spare rooms.
The Scottish Government has moved to effectively buy out the policy north of the border, using new powers to provide £50million to help 72,000 affected households.
A Labour motion to axe the policy completely across Britain was defeated by 298 to 266 in the Commons last night.
Dame Anne Begg, Labour MP for Aberdeen South and chairwoman of Westminster’s work and pensions committee, spoke during the debate.
She said: “I can’t see why the government persists in turning its face against these absolutely sensible proposals.
“They keep arguing that it’s all right because they get discretionary housing payment, but discretionary housing payments aren’t permanent and what they need is some kind of permanent adjustment.”
Eilidh Whiteford, SNP MP for Banff Buchan, said the UK Government was “scapegoating” the most vulnerable for the problems in housing.
Disabled people were on the “front line of the austerity cuts”, she added.
