A vote to abolish the ‘bedroom tax’ was defeated in Parliament with the support of two of Barnet’s MPs.

The Government defeated a motion from the Labour Party to abolish the ‘bedroom tax’ – known to its supporters as the ‘spare room subsidy’ - yesterday by a majority of 32.

The policy, introduced last year as part of the Government’s welfare reforms, reduces the amount social housing tenants receive in housing benefit if they are deemed to have too much living space.

Families are assessed for the number of bedrooms they need.

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer and Hendon MP Matthew Offord both voted against the motion.

Chipping Barnet MP and Northern Ireland Secetary Theresa Villiers missed the vote, as she has been chairing cross party talks in Northern Ireland this week.

Mr Freer said: “In my constituency, overcrowding is an issue and asking people to downsize is not unrealistic when large families need the homes that are currently under-occupied.”

He added: “Labour are hypocrites in that they are happy for those receiving benefits in private rented accommodation to have housing benefit only for the bedrooms needed. Why should one person get subsidy for a spare room and another not, just because one rents from the council and the other doesn't?”

Mr Offord said that the supply of social housing needed to be better used.

He added: “If you live in the private rented sector similar rules - introduced by a Labour government - already apply. I do not believe it is fair to apply the principle to some tenants and not to others and it is disappointing that Labour appear content for this to be the case.”