Scottish Parliament Votes on Housing Crisis Response

In a recent Scottish Parliament vote, a motion by Labour leader Anas Sarwar accusing the SNP government of failing to address the housing emergency was defeated 60 to 54, with eight abstentions. Instead, an amended government motion, which removed the claim of inadequacy, passed by 59 votes to 55. This follows alarming statistics revealing a record number of homeless households in Scotland, including over 10,000 children in temporary accommodation. Sarwar criticized the government for falling short in housing provision, stating that homelessness is rising while fewer homes are being built. Housing Minister Paul McLennan countered that the government is taking urgent action, including a new £22 million charitable bond program, and invited Labour to propose solutions. He attributed the crisis partly to UK government policies, which he claimed necessitate systemic change and investment at a national level.