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Tory MPs defeated as benefit bill clear first Commons hurdle Tories defeated as benefit bill clears first Commons hurdle
(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 detailed scrutiny at the committee stage. Lib Dem MP Andrew George's private member's bill will now move to 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.
The BBC's parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy said there was now a "fighting chance" the bill would become law.The BBC's parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy said there was now a "fighting chance" the bill would become law.
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".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''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".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.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." "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," she said.
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. Since April 2013, tenants in council and social housing who are deemed to have surplus bedrooms for their needs have seen their housing benefit cut by up to 25% - a key plank in the government's efforts to reduce growth in welfare spending.
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. Mr George's bill would mean people who could not be found a smaller home would be exempt from the cuts, as well as disabled people who need a spare bedroom or who have adapted homes.
'More protection''More protection'
During a four-hour debate, 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. During a four-hour debate, Mr George told MPs the most vulnerable were not sufficiently protected and he was proposing "reasonable" changes "based on the evidence" to make the policy fairer.
He said an interim evaluation of the impact of the changes demonstrated that the most vulnerable people in society were not being adequately protected. "We have had long enough to tell how these regulations have had an impact," the MP for St Ives - who opposed the original changes - said.
"We have had long enough to tell how these regulations have had an impact," he said. "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."
Welcome
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. What were the original changes?
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%.
The changes were designed to ensure social tenants get the same treatment as private tenants, who do not get any rent support.
Tenants can apply for discretionary housing payments to fill any shortfall between their benefit entitlement and the rent or they can 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.
It means his proposed law will get more Commons time than would normally be the case for a private member's bill.
Tory, Labour and Lib Dem MPs turned out in force to vote on the first stage of the bill.
It is only the second time the coalition partners have voted against each other en masse without prior agreement since 2010 - the first was over changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies.It is only the second time the coalition partners have voted against each other en masse without prior agreement since 2010 - the first was over changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies.
Senior Lib Dem ministers, including Vince Cable and Simon Hughes, joined Labour in the lobbies and voted against their coalition partners.Senior Lib Dem ministers, including Vince Cable and Simon Hughes, joined Labour in the lobbies and voted against their coalition partners.
'Big win'
Mr Hughes tweeted that it was a "big win" for those who wanted to make the changes fairer.Mr Hughes tweeted that it was a "big win" for those who wanted to make the changes fairer.
Shadow defence minister Vernon Coaker told the BBC "virtually all" Labour MPs were in Parliament in order to vote for the legislation. Shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker told the BBC "virtually all" Labour MPs were in Parliament in order to vote for the legislation. .
What were the original changes? During the debate, several Tory MPs described the bill as a "Trojan horse" and said it flew in the face of the government's efforts to control the welfare bill.
The government's changes affected housing benefit, which is paid to less well-off tenants to help with rent. "Mr George sought to lull us all into a sense of reasonableness by seeking to assert this was just a bill to tidy up and amend the spare room subsidy," Sir Tony Baldry said.
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%. "It's quite clear from the comments of Labour that, actually, the supporters of this bill, their real intention is to remove the spare room subsidy completely."
Tenants can apply for discretionary housing payments to fill any shortfall between their benefit entitlement and the rent. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said it would cost the Treasury £1bn to reverse the changes and challenged critics to say what other cuts they would make to pay for it.
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.
The Conservatives have insisted the changes were working and were bringing "the bloated housing benefit bill under control".
During the debate, Conservative MP Sir Tony Baldry said the Commons had 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."
And Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said it would cost the Treasury £1bn cost to reverse the changes, saying this had been costed and verified by the Office for Budget Responsibility.