The bedroom tax leaves vulnerable people at risk and needs to be repealed, says Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for South Dorset Simon Bowkett.

He spoke as MPs voted on a Labour motion calling for the abolition of the tax, which affects more than 400,000 disabled people nationwide, and around 30,000 people in the South West.

Mr Bowkett said: “For the vast majority of those affected by this policy, there is simply nowhere smaller to move to.

“This means often vulnerable people are faced with an average bill of £720 a year through no fault of their own.

“Instead of reducing the housing benefit bill, there is now a risk the bedroom tax will actually cost the taxpayer more than it saves.”

There are an estimated 517 households affected by bedroom tax in South Dorset.