Disabled people living in adapted homes should be exempt from the bedroom tax, it is claimed.

John Grogan, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Keighley and Ilkley, said many cannot afford to lose the £14 a week from their benefits for having a spare room.

He is calling on Ilkley MP and housing minister Kris Hopkins to push for a change in the rules.

“Many of these disabled people have fought hard to get their homes adapted so they can remain independent,” said Mr Grogan.

“They are proud people who watch every penny spent and many are simply not able to afford the extra £14 a week.

“Often the ‘spare’ room is used by grown-up children coming home at weekends to help out.

“What sense does it make to force them to move out when thousands of pounds of public money has been spent on adapting their homes?”