A Commons backlash against the bedroom tax began in earnest yesterday with MPs voting by a majority of 75 to reduce its impact.

Disgruntled Tory Philip Davies complained that the coalition government “has come to an end” after Labour united with the Conservatives’ junior partners to support back-bench Lib Dem Andrew George’s Affordable Homes Bill by 306 votes to 231.

If ultimately passed into law it would exempt disabled people with specially adapted homes, those with genuine need of a spare room and tenants who are not given a “reasonable offer” of alternative housing with the correct number of bedrooms.