Emma Reynolds, Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East and Shadow Housing Minister, has voted for a Labour motion to scrap the bedroom tax introduced by the Tory-led government.The bedroom tax has cost thousands of low-income families an average of £1,260 since it was introduced in April 2013. The latest government figures show around 500,000 people are being charged the bedroom tax, paying on average £14 a week. Two thirds (330,000) of those affected are disabled and 60,000 are carers.

Emma said. “The next Labour government will scrap David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s bedroom tax. But the thousands of people affected by it in Wolverhampton, including over 1400 in my constituency, cannot afford to wait that long. It is costing low-income families over £1,200, meaning families affected are struggling to make ends meet at a time when their bills are rising.

“The government’s own independent report into the bedroom tax found fewer than five per cent of people affected had moved to another home and 60 per cent of people had fallen behind with their rent. That is because there are no smaller properties for people to move into. The bedroom tax has not worked, it is yet another example of a failed Tory policy. Therefore, Labour forced a vote in the House of Commons today which could have effectively abolished the bedroom tax by Christmas. I voted to scrap the tax.

”I am disappointed that MPs from other parties did not do the right thing and vote with Labour to scrap the bedroom tax today. People cannot afford to spend another Christmas paying this cruel and unfair tax on bedrooms.”

December 2014