SNP Questions 'Rancid' Bedroom Tax

During Scottish Questions at Westminster today two SNP MPs raised the issue of the Bedroom tax about to hit an estimated 100,000 Scots who live in social housing.

Dr Eilidh Whiteford SNP MP for Banff and Buchan and Work and Pensions spokesperson asked Tory junior minister David Mundell:

"Will he take the opportunity to distance himself from this shameful attempt by the Government to stigmatise and penalise people who live in council houses and need help with their rent?"

In his reply Mr Mundell said Dr. Whiteford was:

"Playing party politics"

Angus Robertson Westminster SNP Leader and MP for Moray then asked the Secretary of State Michael Moore:

"As one of the most rancid unfair pieces of legislation since the Poll tax, can the Secretary of State remind the House how many Scottish MPs voted for it?"

The Secretary of State was unable to answer Mr Robertson’s question. Mr Robertson continued:

"Anybody watching this debate will have noticed that the Secretary of State wasn’t prepared to confirm that 82 percent of Scottish members of this house had voted against the Bedroom tax. So just like the Poll tax an unpopular regressive measure is being imposed on the people of Scotland when the overwhelming majority of their public representatives are totally opposed to it."

Angus Robertson commented later:

"People will have seen the inability of Michael Moore to answer straightforward questions about the imposition of the Bedroom tax, and how despite a huge majority of Scotland’s MPs - over 80 per cent - voting against it this iniquitous tax will still hit Scots. Only with a Yes vote for an independent Scotland in 2014 can we stop more unfair, unwanted and undemocratic taxes being imposed on Scotland by Westminster."