‘This Wednesday Labour forced a vote to scrap this failing policy once and for all.  Unfortunately local Tory MP Mark Garnier chose to vote in favour of the Bedroom Tax and illustrated, once again, that he favours the wealthy few not the struggling many.”

On Wednesday this week Labour forced a debate and vote in parliament on the Bedroom Tax.

Since the Bedroom Tax was introduced around half a million low-income households have been forced to find, on average an extra £700 a year. In Wyre Forest  581 people have been hit by the Bedroom Tax. At the same time the Conservative Government has introduced a tax cut from those earning more than £150,000 a year.

Labour’s vote to abolish the Bedroom Tax on Wednesday was defeated by Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs. Tory MP for Mark Garnier, who recently set out his priorities by favouring ‘wealth creators’ over ‘dog end voters’, voted to keep the Bedroom Tax.

Dr Matt Lamb, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Wyre Forest said:

‘This Christmas 581 people in Wyre Forest will struggle to make ends meet, many relying on food banks to survive because of the Bedroom Tax David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s government introduced in April 2013. The Bedroom Tax is wasting people’s money, time and talents, it’s another example of Tory Welfare Waste.

Rachel Reeves said: “Around half a million people have been hit by the Bedroom Tax, forcing many into debt and to rely on food banks. It’s a cruel, unfair and costly tax with two thirds of those affected are disabled. Let’s scrap the Bedroom Tax and get rid of this failing policy which is leading to more Tory Welfare Waste.”