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Plans to amend benefit changes clear first Commons test Plans to amend benefit changes clear first Commons test
(35 minutes later)
Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs have joined forces to defeat Conservatives in a Commons vote to partly overturn housing benefit changes.Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs have joined forces to defeat Conservatives in a Commons vote to partly overturn housing benefit changes.
MPs backed the Affordable Homes Bill at second reading by 306 votes to 231.MPs backed the Affordable Homes Bill at second reading by 306 votes to 231.
Lib Dem MP Andrew George's private members bill will now move to move detailed scrutiny at the committee stage. Lib Dem MP Andrew George's private members bill will now move detailed scrutiny at the committee stage.
The issue has split the coalition, with Lib Dem and Tory MPs and ministers voting along party lines.The issue has split the coalition, with Lib Dem and Tory MPs and ministers voting along party lines.
Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MPs turned out in force to vote on the first stage of the bill, which would overturn aspects of controversial government legislation which came into force last year. After the vote, Conservative MP Philip Davies accused the Lib Dems - who backed the plans when they were initially approved by Parliament - of being "devious and untrustworthy".
'Food banks'
He suggested there would now be a "free for all" for the remainder of the Parliament and the coalition government had "officially come to an end".
And Labour's Rachel Reeves repeated her party's calls for the entire policy to be scrapped.
"David Cameron and Nick Clegg's cruel and unfair 'bedroom tax' has hit hundreds of thousands of people across the country causing misery, hardship and forcing families to rely on food banks."
Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MPs turned out in force to vote on the first stage of the bill, which would overturn aspects of controversial government legislation which came into force in April 2013.
The bill would mean people who could not be found a smaller home would be exempt, as well as disabled people who need a spare bedroom or who have adapted homes.The bill would mean people who could not be found a smaller home would be exempt, as well as disabled people who need a spare bedroom or who have adapted homes.
'More protection''More protection'
Mr George, who voted against the housing benefit changes when they were introduced, told MPs that he was proposing "reasonable" changes "based on the evidence" to make the policy fairer.Mr George, who voted against the housing benefit changes when they were introduced, told MPs that he was proposing "reasonable" changes "based on the evidence" to make the policy fairer.
Analysis by BBC Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'Arcy
Labour see the bill as an opportunity to get the Lib Dems to disown the so-called "Bedroom Tax" (and quite a few Lib Dem backbenchers will be keen to do so) and will therefore support it, "as a rope supports a hanging man".
But with the Tory awkward squad expected to turn out in force to spin out the debate until time runs out ("does the Pope have a balcony?" one awkward squaddie responded, when asked if he would be there) a hundred MPs will be needed to close the debate and ensure the Bill receives a Second Reading. Read Mark's full analysis.
He said an interim evaluation of the impact of the changes demonstrated that the most vulnerable people in society were not being adequately protected.He said an interim evaluation of the impact of the changes demonstrated that the most vulnerable people in society were not being adequately protected.
"I can understand the rationale behind the proposal which is simply to apply the regulations to the social rented sector which previously only applied to the private rented sector," he said. "We have had long enough to tell how these regulations have had an impact," he said.
"We have had long enough to tell how these regulations have had an impact.
"It is quite clear that if we are to ensure that...the vulnerable are properly protected, the rules should be changed so that existing tenants are not penalised when they cannot move into smaller accommodation because this is not available in their locality.""It is quite clear that if we are to ensure that...the vulnerable are properly protected, the rules should be changed so that existing tenants are not penalised when they cannot move into smaller accommodation because this is not available in their locality."
WelcomeWelcome
Mr George opted to put together a bill on Affordable Homes after coming top of an annual ballot of backbenchers - which allows members to propose new legislation.Mr George opted to put together a bill on Affordable Homes after coming top of an annual ballot of backbenchers - which allows members to propose new legislation.
It means his proposed law will get more Commons time than would normally be the case for a private members bill.It means his proposed law will get more Commons time than would normally be the case for a private members bill.
It is only the second time that the coalition partners have been encouraged to vote against each other since 2010 - the first was over changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies.It is only the second time that the coalition partners have been encouraged to vote against each other since 2010 - the first was over changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies.
Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said he had cancelled other meetings in order to attend and "fix the Tories' unfair bedroom tax".Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said he had cancelled other meetings in order to attend and "fix the Tories' unfair bedroom tax".
Shadow defence minister Vernon Coaker told the BBC "virtually all" Labour MPs were in Parliament in order to vote for the legislation.Shadow defence minister Vernon Coaker told the BBC "virtually all" Labour MPs were in Parliament in order to vote for the legislation.
Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "Today Labour MPs vote to reduce the number of people who pay the bedroom tax. And next May I'll scrap it altogether."
What were the original changes?What were the original changes?
The government's changes affected housing benefit, which is paid to less well-off tenants to help with rent.The government's changes affected housing benefit, which is paid to less well-off tenants to help with rent.
In the past, claimants typically received between £50 and £100 a week. Since April 2013, tenants deemed to have one spare room have seen their rent support cut by 14% and those with two or more rooms by 25%.In the past, claimants typically received between £50 and £100 a week. Since April 2013, tenants deemed to have one spare room have seen their rent support cut by 14% and those with two or more rooms by 25%.
Tenants can apply for discretionary housing payments to fill any shortfall between their benefit entitlement and the rent.Tenants can apply for discretionary housing payments to fill any shortfall between their benefit entitlement and the rent.
They can also downsize, but problems have arisen in some areas where there is a shortage of smaller homes. Campaigners say those affected face being forced to move long distances to find a property, or move into the private sector, where rents could be higher.They can also downsize, but problems have arisen in some areas where there is a shortage of smaller homes. Campaigners say those affected face being forced to move long distances to find a property, or move into the private sector, where rents could be higher.
Earlier this week, Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said her party had decided to get behind Mr George's bill after initially denouncing the "hypocrisy" of the Lib Dems for attacking a policy which they had voted for.
But the Conservatives have insisted the changes were working and were bringing "the bloated housing benefit bill under control".But the Conservatives have insisted the changes were working and were bringing "the bloated housing benefit bill under control".
Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry said the Commons backed a cap on the overall welfare bill in 2012 and it would be wrong to do anything to undermine that now.Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry said the Commons backed a cap on the overall welfare bill in 2012 and it would be wrong to do anything to undermine that now.
"We cannot come to this House to spend taxpayers' money without it having consequences.""We cannot come to this House to spend taxpayers' money without it having consequences."
And Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the £1bn cost to the Treasury of amending the plans had been costed and verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.And Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the £1bn cost to the Treasury of amending the plans had been costed and verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
But shadow minister Chris Bryant said this figure was "suspiciously round" and suggested that it had been dreamt up the "night before".