Our Politics newsletter is now daily. Join thousands of others and get the latest Scottish politics news sent straight to your inbox. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

THE Con-Dems were slammed last night for refusing to help the Scottish Government banish the bedroom tax.

The Record revealed yesterday that the SNP have freed up the £15million needed to effectively abolish the vicious Westminster policy.

They are now working out how to get the money to those on the sharp end of the housing benefit cut.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had hoped UK Welfare Minister Lord Freud would change the law to allow the Scottish Government to top up discretionary housing payments (DHPs) to tenants struggling to pay their rent.

But the Department for Work and Pensions said the take-up of DHPs was not high enough to justify the cap being lifted.

The Scottish Government will now look at alternative plans, such as setting up a prevention of homelessness fund.

The Scottish Government have had talks with Labour, who are supporting their rivals’ budget.

SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn said it is “absurd” the Scottish Government have had to scrabble around to “mop up Westminster’s mess”.

He said: “The UK Government must take action now to lift the cap on discretionary housing payment to allow this help to reach those who need it.

“Scotland has united against the bedroom tax and cross-party support is welcome.

“It is absurd that the Scottish Government have had to use scarce resources to help people suffering under a policy that Scotland comprehensively rejected.

“The status quo only allows us to mitigate the worst excesses of Westminster’s agenda.

“It is impossible for the Scottish Government to mitigate the full £4.5billion impact of Westminster’s welfare cuts.”

But a DWP spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government’s call for the current 150 per cent cap on discretionary housing payment top-ups to be increased doesn’t fit with our experience of how DHPs are working in Scotland.

“The UK Government set aside £20million of additional DHP funding support, which local authorities could apply for through a bidding scheme.

“After operating for four months, the scheme is closing and so far only 11 [around a third] of Scottish authorities have made a bid for additional funding.”

Scottish Labour welfare spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “Removing the cap on DHP is not the only solution and support can be provided by the Scottish Government to help tenants.

“Renfrewshire Council introduced a council tenant assistance fund to remove debt from tenants falling into arrears as a result of the bedroom tax. And East Lothian Housing Association have set up a scheme which would write off debt accrued.

“The Renfrewshire scheme has been approved by Audit Scotland and, with the money in place, there is no reason why it could not be rolled out across the country.”

Charities urged the UK Government to allow the SNP to take action.

Citizens Advice Scotland’s Keith Dryburgh said: “It’s important governments work together with councils, landlords and charities to help people avoid falling into crisis.”

Campaigners also called on the Tories to end the tax.

Scottish Anti-Bedroom Tax Federation’s Tommy Sheridan said: “The support of the Daily Record was invaluable in this fight.

“Labour and the SNP have seen sense and have put an end to the madness of the bedroom tax. It’s time for the Tories to kill it off for good.”