SOMETIMES politics is about admitting you made a mistake; it should always be about improving things for people.

The recent vote in Parliament proposing reforms to the divisive and damaging “bedroom tax” was an opportunity for the Government to show it had listened to people’s concerns over the chronic unfairness of this tax.

The Lib Dems did understand; that is why none of their MPs voted against this change in the law. What a great shame, then, that Caroline Nokes instead voted to retain the status quo.

Many of us outside Westminster have been opposed to the unfair and illiberal “bedroom tax” since day one; this vote was a chance for our elected representatives to show they’ve heard that opposition.

I challenge Ms Nokes to outline her position on the tax, to explain why she believes it is the right policy for the Government to pursue, and to tell those affected why she believes it is right the Government continues to discriminate against them.

For the record, I am not arguing that our welfare system doesn’t need reform – simply that the bedroom tax has always been the wrong way to reform it, and that I'm disappointed that Ms Nokes didn’t join other Government colleagues (of both parties) fighting for increased fairness.

BEN NICHOLLS, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Romsey & Southampton North.