ON TUESDAY, Thurrock residents affected by the bedroom tax held a meeting with local politicians to talk about how to minimise its effects on local communities. Polly Billington, Labours Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Thurrock, and local councillors attended.
1200 households in Thurrock have been affected by the bedroom tax, which removes housing benefits of up to 25% for people in social housing who are said to have a spare bedroom.
Residents, many with disabilities, described the impact of the benefit cut, saying that after paying the additional charge they had no money for food and other essentials and needed to resort to food-banks. One resident described feeling suicidal since the change came into effect.
Thurrock resident Martine Rogers said:
“People who are affected by this cant take it lying down, so we are getting together to campaign so that we are not thrown out of our homes and our community isn’t broken up. Unite the Union is helping us. This meeting is the first of many activities we are planning, we hope other residents will join us in fighting this unfair tax.”
Val Morris-Cook, Cabinet Member for housing, said: “The bedroom tax will cost more money than it would save. Thurrock council are costing options to protect residents, such as redesignating bedrooms and taking a no-eviction policy for those whose arrears are solely due to the bedroom tax.
To get involved in the campaign contact Pilgrim Tucker, Unite Community Co-ordinator, on 07970 126249 or [email protected]
From a pure logic point of view this policy is nonsense. Council rents are half those in the private sector. I cannot see the sense in forcing someone out of a home so that they can get the so called right sized property to meet the benefit requirements when the cost of that property is going to be more than what it would cost the government to allow a person to remain where they are. Bonkers.
Council’s should be building more one bedroom places. I know of two councils that deliberately left one bedroom properties off their asset management strategy even though they knew they had a large requirement for them. Again political point scoring and bonkers.
The Labour party introduced this into the private sector and I can understand the point that it is simply being applied to the social housing sector. Where it falls down is the fact that it will inevitably push up the amount of subsidy that the government will have to pay out to house people. It will save nothing.
I think Mr Smith should admit defeat but ensure councils are compelled to solve their property requirements and not play politics instead.
It’s not as bad as the poll tax but it’s moving in that direction.
And Labour have promised t scrap this if they win the next General Election…
…oh hold on!
It’s interesting to note that Unite are involved in this. Ed Milibrain has declared he won’t scrap and Unite are mounting a campaign against it. Milibrain has declared that he wants Labour electorla candidates to be local people not affiliated to the unions. Amnesia Polly is from Islington and is Milibrains place and Mr Le Smurf is backed by Unison. Way to run your party Ed.
The Comrade at New road Towers must be taking his lead from the top. I think the public shoud get the same treatment as his councillors. We shoud all get 8 grand for bugger all and we should all get any benefit investigations hushed up and brushed under the carpet.
Perhaps the Unite members could ask their fellow Union members to get their fingers out and collect the borough bins.