TORY MPs have been accused of a timewasting plot to save the “bedroom tax” – and threatened with an all-night sitting to defeat them.

The Bill that would scrap the measure for most people affected has begun its committee stage, with its supporters hopeful of success before next May’s General Election.

But Conservative MPs on the committee are guilty of “snide tactics” to get it bogged down in irrelevant debate, said the Bill’s Liberal Democrat sponsor.

Meanwhile, No 10 is trying to slam on the brakes by refusing to grant the “money resolution” required by any backbench Bill, Andrew George said.

Now Mr George has vowed to defeat the time-wasting when the committee sits again next Wednesday, to ensure the bedroom tax moves closer to the axe before Christmas.

He told the Daily Echo: “The Tories are trying every snide tactic in the book to stop my Bill – points of order to delay the start and amend-ments to get the committee meeting on a different day.

“But we will sit through the night next week if we have to and show we have more stamina than they have. They can bring their sleeping bags.

“The Tories have been trying for years to repackage themselves – but the mask has slipped. They are still the nasty party, willing to kick the poor and disabled.”

A money resolution is normally granted “within days”, Mr George said, but had still not been granted – yet the Bill cleared its first stage way back on September 5.

The Affordable Homes Bill would end the removal of the so-called “spare room subsidy” from disabled tenants and those who cannot be found a smaller home – the vast majority.

Earlier this year, the Daily Echo revealed that less than one per cent of Southampton tenants affected had moved to a smaller home – just 13 of 1,444 households.

At that point, in April, 243 of the remaining tenants in the city had been plunged into arrears after losing up to 25 per cent of their housing benefit, under the strict new rules.

Mike Thornton, the Eastleigh MP, was among Lib Dems who backed the Bill last month, arguing the Coalition blundered when the bedroom tax was introduced.

The Government claimed the measure would free up houses for large families on waiting lists, but critics said the lack of smaller properties meant it was impossible to move.

Mr George named Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset) and David Nuttall (Bury North) as the Conserv-ative MPs carrying out the filibust-ering.

Labour’s candidate for Southampton Itchen, Rowenna Davis, said: “Some of the most vulnerable people in our city have been kicked in the teeth by the bedroom tax. We see them lining up at foodbanks when they are unable to work and unable to move home.

“Labour have promised to repeal the bedroom tax if we get into power and we will work with anyone to scrap it even sooner if we can. Of course all of us regret that the Liberal Democrats supported the introduction of the bedroom tax in the first place, and it’s a damning indictment of the Tories that they won’t admit the damage it’s done.

“But right now the focus should be on simply doing what’s right by people. That means working together to scrap the bedroom tax.”