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Housing benefit changes a mistake, say Lib Dem MPs Housing benefit changes a mistake, say Lib Dem MPs
(about 4 hours later)
Four Liberal Democrat MPs are calling for an urgent review and possible reversal of housing benefit changes, calling them a "mistake".Four Liberal Democrat MPs are calling for an urgent review and possible reversal of housing benefit changes, calling them a "mistake".
Some council tenants have lost part of their payment if deemed to be under-occupying a property, under what opponents have dubbed a "bedroom tax".Some council tenants have lost part of their payment if deemed to be under-occupying a property, under what opponents have dubbed a "bedroom tax".
Greg Mulholland, Ian Swales, Adrian Sanders and Roger Williams said more homes were empty as a result.Greg Mulholland, Ian Swales, Adrian Sanders and Roger Williams said more homes were empty as a result.
Meanwhile, the Commons is debating a Labour motion on undoing the changes. Meanwhile, Labour lost a Commons vote on undoing the coalition's changes.
The government says its policy, which it calls the abolition of a "spare-room subsidy", was introduced to reduce the housing benefit bill and free up homes for families living in overcrowded conditions.The government says its policy, which it calls the abolition of a "spare-room subsidy", was introduced to reduce the housing benefit bill and free up homes for families living in overcrowded conditions.
'Make a difference''Make a difference'
In the Commons, Labour's work and pensions secretary, Rachel Reeves, urged Lib Dems to back her party in a vote expected to take place at about 19:00 GMT.In the Commons, Labour's work and pensions secretary, Rachel Reeves, urged Lib Dems to back her party in a vote expected to take place at about 19:00 GMT.
She said it was a "shame" that Lib Dem Pensions Minister Steve Webb had not listened "to his own party who only in September at the Liberal Democrat party conference voted overwhelmingly against the bedroom tax, saying that it is 'discriminating against the most vulnerable in society'".She said it was a "shame" that Lib Dem Pensions Minister Steve Webb had not listened "to his own party who only in September at the Liberal Democrat party conference voted overwhelmingly against the bedroom tax, saying that it is 'discriminating against the most vulnerable in society'".
Ms Reeves added: "But I am afraid that's what you get with the Liberal Democrats. They say one thing at their conference and when they are out on the doorsteps, but they vote another way in here when it really counts.Ms Reeves added: "But I am afraid that's what you get with the Liberal Democrats. They say one thing at their conference and when they are out on the doorsteps, but they vote another way in here when it really counts.
"When they could make a difference, they turn the other way.""When they could make a difference, they turn the other way."
"I say shame on him and shame on his party," Ms Reeves told MPs."I say shame on him and shame on his party," Ms Reeves told MPs.
But Labour's motion failed by 26 votes - less than the government's usual majority in Commons votes, which in normal circumstances is more than 50.
The separate Commons Early Day Motion - effectively an expression of opinion - tabled by the four Lib Dem MPs, said the "under-occupancy penalty" had been a "mistake and should not have been introduced".The separate Commons Early Day Motion - effectively an expression of opinion - tabled by the four Lib Dem MPs, said the "under-occupancy penalty" had been a "mistake and should not have been introduced".
It added that it would "not achieve the savings projected for it and that as constructed it is likely to have unforeseen consequences that will be unfair to certain groups and individuals".It added that it would "not achieve the savings projected for it and that as constructed it is likely to have unforeseen consequences that will be unfair to certain groups and individuals".
The alteration had the "perverse consequence that in some areas there are more larger properties now lying empty and with inadequate smaller housing", it said.The alteration had the "perverse consequence that in some areas there are more larger properties now lying empty and with inadequate smaller housing", it said.
But Mr Webb told MPs: "We need action on overcrowding. We need fairness between social and private tenants. We need action on the deficit.But Mr Webb told MPs: "We need action on overcrowding. We need fairness between social and private tenants. We need action on the deficit.
"The party opposite has no answer to these problems. The coalition has answered them.""The party opposite has no answer to these problems. The coalition has answered them."