Stockport Labour Group renewed its call for the Bedroom Tax to be scrapped at a meeting of Stockport Council on Thursday which debated the policy. A clear motion was presented to Councillors from across the political spectrum asking them to publically state that they support getting rid of the Bedroom Tax, but this was voted down by the Liberal Democrats.
On 1st April 2013, the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Government introduced reductions to Housing Benefit payments in instances where social tenants are deemed to be under-occupying their homes.
This policy has caused hardship for hundreds of thousands of people across the country, costing low-income families an average of £700 a year. Two thirds of those hit by the Bedroom Tax have disabilities and 60,000 are carers.
As of May 2014, over 75,000 people in the North-West of England have been directly affected by the Bedroom Tax. Across the whole of the UK, that number is more than 480,000.
Despite the clear evidence that the Bedroom Tax is causing misery, hardship and forcing thousands to rely on food banks, it retains the backing of the Liberal Democrats despite attempts on 5th September in Parliament to water down some of the impacts of their own policy.
Reddish North Councillor Kate Butler challenged Stockport’s Liberal Democrats to acknowledge the unfairness of the policy and its impact on some of the most vulnerable residents of the Borough.
Following the meeting, Cllr Butler said“The Coalition Government’s defeat on 5th September saw the beginning of the end for the hated Bedroom Tax, ultimately though it is only the Labour Party who will scrap it.
“This motion, which was an opportunity for Stockport Council to be on the right side of history, demonstrated that Stockport’s Liberal Democrats still support this tax on predominantly vulnerable and disabled people.”
The Lib Dems have repeatedly backed the Tories to keep the Bedroom Tax in place and have refused to join previous Labour attempts to get rid of the policy.