Discuss - Economy Bedroom Tax - Introduce Spare Room Policy? (AKA bedroom tax)

Are you in favour of the Spare Room Policy, referred to by some as the 'Bedroom Tax'?

Alliance Party Judith Cochrane MLA has stated "The 'bedroom tax' is perhaps the most offensive aspect of the so-called reforms. Fundamentally, it is a dehumanising measure, which doesn't adequately take into account personal circumstances the need for flexibility." Source: http://allianceparty.org/article/2013/007757/cochrane-calls-on-executive-to-explore-all-options-to-avoid-bedroom-tax

Conservative Conservative Minister Iain Duncan Smith said, 'We need to put an end to the unfair situation where the taxpayer is subsidising people to have homes, paid for by the state, with spare rooms they do not need.This is effectively a spare room subsidy. Britain can not afford it and nor can the taxpayer'. The rationale of the 'Under-occupancy penalty' is to encourage council tenants living in houses too big for their needs to move into smaller properties so that existing housing stock can be better used, as well as reduce the overall housing benefit bill. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under-occupancy_penalty

DUP Representatives from the DUP have confirmed that they will attempt to scrap the introduction of the Spare Room Policy ('Bedroom Tax' during a debate held in April 2014. Senior DUP member Simon Hamilton has expressed concern that the tax will hit NI tenants 'disproportionately hard'. Source: http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/northern-ireland-rejects-bedroom-tax/6526399.article

Green Party Ryan Coley, Green Party lead candidate for Canbury, has said "The bedroom tax is vile, it leaves people being pushed into poverty for refusing to move from their homes or can leave them far away from their friends and families who they may rely on for support." Source: http://kingston.greenparty.org.uk/news/greens-launch-petition-to-scrap-the-bedroom-tax.html

Labour Labour say that "David Cameron's hated Bedroom Tax is hitting more than 400,000 disabled people. It's cruel, it's unfair, and it doesn't work. Labour will scrap it and pay for it byclosing tax-dodging loopholes." Source: Labour Manifesto

Liberal Democrat "The Liberal Democrats have put forward a voting parliament to reform policy on the spare room subsidy. We want to tackle overcrowding with a new system to incentivise social landlords to reduce the number of tenants under-occupying homes, whilst protecting the most vulnerable." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under-occupancy_penalty

Plaid Cymru "I want to add my voice to the diverse group who are calling for the abolition of the bedroom tax, from Church of England bishops to Conservative Councillors to the many dedicated campaigners across the country who are fighting with great dedication. Together we can bring an end to this cruel tax, and in the meantime we can help those who are affected." Jocelyn Davies, Plaid Cymru.

Respect Party Respect claims that the Bedroom Tax was an 'attack on the poor and marginalised within society whereby a ‘subsidy’ was lost if the claimant was found to have a spare room, thereby effectively cutting their housing benefit'. Source: http://www.respectparty.org/national/scrap-the-bedroom-tax/

SNP The SNP party has highlighted that at every level of Government they are "at the forefront of opposition to the deeply unfair policy that will tear people out of their communities and drive thousands of people deeper into poverty", continuing, "The Bedroom Tax needs to be scrapped completely, and the Scottish Parliament needs the powers to scrap it. Only a Yes vote in September 2014 will give us the chance to do that, and ensure that welfare in Scotland reflects the values of people living here rather than the values of the Westminster system." Source: https://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2013/mar/snp-promise-no-let-opposition-bedroom-tax

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