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TORY minister David Mundell was last night accused of “running scared” after swerving a confrontation with victims of the bedroom tax.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland had been due to meet Renfrewshire Council leader Mark Macmillan to discuss the controversial under-occupancy legislation.

But he called it off at the last minute on Monday afternoon, just as Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was getting a public mauling over other cuts.

And pressure group Bin The Bedroom Tax Renfrewshire, who had been planning a protest outside the meeting in Renfrew yesterday, claim he called off because he was afraid to tackle the issue head-on.

Macmillan said yesterday: “It was Mundell who approached the council to get a meeting, as he was keen to discuss the bedroom tax. I was very eager to meet him and tell him what a devastating effect this unjust tax would have on so many people in Renfrewshire.

“The request for a meeting arrived on Thursday but we only heard he had urgent business in London on Monday afternoon, just as Iain Duncan Smith was hitting all the headlines.

“Our council last week agreed to support no eviction from our properties of people who cannot pay the bedroom tax. Maybe Mr Mundell didn’t want to discuss this.”

Renfrewshire Council received an email from Mundell’s office at 2.24pm, cancelling the meeting.

An aide wrote: “Apologies for the last-minute change of plans. I will be in contact to rearrange the meeting.”

Richard Neville, who organised the protest meeting, said: “I don’t think Mundell fancied being asked any of the questions people affected by unfair cuts might want to ask – because the Tories don’t have any answer.”

Former Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan said: “What could be more urgent than finding out how this evil tax will hit the very poorest people?”

A spokesman for Mundell denied he was trying to swerve bad publicity. But neither the Scotland Office or the Scottish Tories would explain what his urgent business in London was.