The social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville attributed Scotland’s housing crisis to factors including Brexit, UK austerity and “economic incompetence” and called for all parties in Scotland to work together “to examine all options to make progress”. 

In November, Labour put forward a motion to declare a housing emergency, which the SNP voted against.

Last month, the SNP lost its majority after the power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens collapsed, meaning it had risked defeat in the debate yesterday afternoon.

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