An SNP MP has warned “the Tories and Labour are pushing families into poverty and costing Scotland millions of pounds".

Kilmarnock and Loudoun representative, Alan Brown, has hit out as new analysis reveals how badly his constituency has been impacted by the bedroom tax.

The analysis, conducted by the SNP using the latest data available from the UK government Department for Work and Pensions, revealed that 1,142 households in East Ayrshire have had their housing benefits cut due to the policy as of February 2023, according to the information.

Some 1,723 households in receipt of Universal Credit in Kilmarnock and Loudoun are also believed to have had their housing benefits cut due to the bedroom tax.

MP Alan Brown said: "The Tories and Labour are pushing people across Scotland into poverty, and costing the Scottish Government hundreds of millions of pounds by choosing to continue imposing the bedroom tax against Scotland's will.

"This is yet another broken promise from the pro-Brexit Labour Party, who are becoming indistinguishable from the Tories."

Mr Brown added: “In contrast, the SNP Scottish Government has spent millions of pounds protecting families by mitigating policies like the bedroom tax – all with one hand tied behind our back.

“With the full powers of independence, Scotland could rid itself of Westminster control for good – which would make policies like the bedroom tax a thing of the past.”

The Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour have been contacted for comment.