THOUSANDS of people in Warrington will be hit as the Government press ahead with their vindictive “Bedroom Tax”, it is claimed today.
Warrington North Labour Party have launched a campaign “Say No to Bedroom Tax!”, designed to raise awareness of the Government’s new “under-occupancy” tax and speak up for residents who are affected.
With the tax due to come in to effect in April for tenants of working age, people in Warrington are becoming increasingly concerned about how they and their families will be affected.
The tax will cut the amount of housing benefit that people receive if they are deemed to have a “spare” bedroom in their housing association home, potentially affecting more than 2,000 people in Warrington with 200 people in Poulton North alone.
Cllr Billy Lines-Rowlands (pictured) said: “People claim housing benefit simply because they desperately need it during these tough times. To ask hard working people in Warrington to take a hit whilst at the same time the Tory-Lib Dem Government gives millionaires a £107,000 tax giveaway is simply unfair.
“This campaign does not advocate a defiant refusal to pay. We intend to offer support to those individuals affected and to campaign to have the tax dropped.
“Along with benefit cuts – including an eight per cent reduction in Council Tax benefit – this new tax will drive many local people deeper into poverty.”
Cllr Chris Vobe added: “The Coalition Government is targeting hard-working people. Those affected are likely to lose a staggering £780 on average per year. For many, this loss could result in a decision about whether they eat less or go cold. How is that possibly fair?
“That is why we are calling on all Warrington North residents to add their voice to our campaign and send a strong message to David Cameron and Nick Clegg.”
Bedroom tax will hit hundreds – claim
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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A tax is a payment that an individual or organisation pays to the state, a benefit is something that the state pays to an individual using taxpayers’ money. With regards to this particular matter, whilst a “bedroom tax” is a snappy sounding term, the term is incorrect, it is in fact a reduction in benefit. Clearly those on housing benefit will be up in arms that their benefit is being reduced and time will tell if it will create the savings that it is intended to produce.
It’s a pity that politicians don’t appreciate their own country and its residents instead of giving millions away to foreign countries. That seems to be the price we pay for being born in this country.
So what would Billy say to a family unable to find suitable social housing when a single person is being paid to stay in a three bedroomed house all by themselves?