MSPs have rejected a bid to have tens of millions of pounds of homelessness cash frontloaded for rapid rehousing.

The Local Government Committee decided to end the petition which wanted £40m of the £50m government fund invested this year in building new homes and providing support for the Housing First model.

After considering the petition the committee agreed unanimously to end the petition’s journey through parliament.

Annabelle Ewing SNP MSP led the move to reject the suggestion.

She said since the petition as submitted in March 2018 a number of developments have taken place including money allocated to Housing First which the Government supports.

She said: “The petition is not supported by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, or the Glasgow and West of Scotland Housing Forum. I feel events have overtaken the petition.

Green MSP Andy Wightman agreed. He said the government has made its position clear, He added: ”I’m not persuaded homelessness would be best tackled by front loading. I commend the petitioner for taking this forward because the homelessness problem is very real.”

The other committee member s Kenny Gibson of the SNP and Alistair Stewart and Graeme Simpson of the Tories nodded their agreement.

Committee Convenor James Dornan, said: there is unanimous decision to close the petition on the grounds the Scottish Government has made its position clear. We commend the petitioner for raising the petition but things have moved on and we will be keeping a very close eye on the issue.”

Sean Clerkin, housing campaigner who submitted the petition was in Holyrood to hear the decision.

He said: “I think it is a betrayal of the homeless people on the streets of our cities.

“What has happened her is we have politicians who are out of touch with what is happening on the streets.

“People are dying on the streets because they are not getting the support they need.”