Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle North, joined Labour colleagues in the Commons today (5th September) to vote for legislation which would reduce the impact of the Bedroom Tax.
The Affordable Homes Bill, which would exclude those who have been living at an address for more than three years and/or where adaptations for people with disabilities have been undertaken, was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill. Unusually for this type of legislation, it received a ‘Second Reading’ in the Commons – by 306 votes to 231 – and will now progress to the next stage of the Parliamentary process.
Catherine said:
‘David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s Bedroom Tax is a cruel, unfair and unworkable policy and is hitting several thousand families across Newcastle, the majority of whom are already on low incomes.
‘I have been inundated with Bedroom Tax cases across my constituency, with many now in very serious financial difficulties and suffering huge anxiety as a result. It is totally outrageous that they should be pushed further into poverty due to a problem not of their own making – as there simply aren’t the smaller properties for them to move to. Of course, many of those affected have disabilities and require an extra room for this reason.
‘A large number of other constituents – not affected by the Bedroom Tax – asked me to vote in favour of this Bill, as they realise just how unfair and pernicious this policy is.
‘The Liberal Democrats have repeatedly joined the Tories to put and keep the Bedroom Tax in place, and have previously resisted any attempt to protect people from it. Yet today the Lib Dems joined Labour in voting against their own policy in Parliament.
‘Of course, this legislation would not get rid of the Bedroom Tax entirely – but it would be an important first step in reducing its impact before a future Labour Government abolishes it once and for all.’