Labour Admit Bedroom Tax not "of great political importance"

RANK HYPOCRISY OF SCOTTISH LABOUR MPs EXPOSED
In using the excuse that they ‘paired’ with coalition MPs on the vote to scrap the Bedroom Tax in the House of Commons last night, Labour have admitted that they did not regard the vote as "of great political importance" - since pairing "is not allowed" in such votes.

The opposition day debate was initiated by Labour, yet a quarter of Scottish Labour MPs failed to turn up and it was lost by just 26 votes.

Commenting, SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“On their own terms, clearly neither the Labour Party nor Westminster as a whole regard the Bedroom Tax as 'of great political importance' - which is an insult to all those families who are suffering from the imposition of this cruel policy.

“This is especially bizarre given that Margaret Curran wrote to Alistair Carmichael urging the Liberal Democrats to rebel against the government. If Labour were already in a cosy deal with the Con/Dems, what was the point of Ms Curran's letter?

“Unlike Labour and Westminster, the Scottish Government is well aware of how important an issue the Bedroom Tax is, and so I believe are the vast majority of people in Scotland. The Bedroom Tax is an unfair and unworkable policy which targets the most disadvantaged in our society, and it will only be scrapped with a Yes vote next year.”

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Labour Fail to Show on Bedroom Tax Vote

Commenting on the news a quarter of Scottish Labour MPs failed to vote on their own Bedroom Tax debate, SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“We have had nothing but confusion, contradictions and a lack of commitment from Labour on the Bedroom Tax and today, their MPs failed to even turn up.

"It is ironic that Margaret Curran wrote to Alistair Carmichael seeking Lib Dem support on today's vote- she should have copied in her own colleagues.

"Only with a Yes vote will we finally be able to get rid of the unjust bedroom tax and have a welfare state that reflects the views and votes of the people of Scotland."

Labour “shambles” over the Bedroom Tax:

• Ed Miliband announces on 20th September that they will scrap the Bedroom Tax if they win in 2015 – six months after the tax was introduced
• Labour’s position has been extremely confused – on 05/09/13 Johann Lamont and Anas Sarwar appeared on TV at the same time: Lamont did not commit Labour to abolishing the Bedroom Tax, Sarwar did. But a Labour spokesperson said: “we are not writing our next manifesto today and, as with everything, we will have to take a view of the fiscal position nearer the time.”
• Jackie Baillie told GMS on 14th September “Yes we will abolish it. My understanding is you can expect an announcement on that very soon” only for a Labour source to tell BBC Online that Ms Baillie had “gone a bit too far.”
• Jackie Baillie MSP has introduced a motion to the Scottish Parliament on scrapping the Bedroom Tax, however Margaret Curran MP failed to ask Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael to offer similar proposals in a letter on the subject this week.

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Labour "shambles" on Bedroom Tax

The Scottish National Party have accused Labour of being in a “shambles” over the Bedroom Tax and have said only a Yes vote next year will ensure it is scrapped in Scotland.

Labour chose to debate the Bedroom Tax in an opposition day debate in the House of Commons, following 10 missed opportunities to do so since the SNP first raised the subject on their opposition day in February.

Commenting following the debate, SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“We have had nothing but confusion, contradictions and a lack of commitment from Labour. It took Ed Miliband six months after the Bedroom Tax was first introduced to pledge Labour would scrap it, and even since then there has been confusion amongst Labour politicians on their party policy.

"In contrast the SNP Government is doing all it can to help mitigate the impact of this divisive policy and Nicola Sturgeon pledged that our funding for Discretionary Housing Payments will continue next year with another £20 million to help victims of Westminster’s Bedroom Tax.

"One of the most significant gains of independence is that Scotland will have full control over its welfare system. That means only with a Yes vote will we finally be able to get rid of the unjust bedroom tax and have a welfare state that reflects the views and votes of the people of Scotland."

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Lamont Called Up On "Cruel" Council Letter

The Scottish National Party has called on Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont to denounce a letter South Ayrshire Council has sent tenants who have fallen victim to the Bedroom Tax and found themselves in arrears of as little as £250, which warns of repossession action and involving Children’s Services.

South Ayrshire Council is a Tory minority in partnership with Labour.

SNP spokesperson for Work and Pensions Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:

“The letter which has been sent out by this joint Tory/Labour authority is cruel and of a threatening nature – Johann Lamont should denounce it immediately.

“The letter would undoubtedly cause a great deal of stress – the recipient is told repossession action could cost them £400 and it essentially threatens to take any children away. The council agreed in March that no families would be evicted over debts caused by the bedroom tax, so why has this letter been sent?

“One of the most significant gains of independence is that Scotland will have full control over its welfare system. That means only with a Yes vote will we finally be able to get ride of the unjust bedroom tax and have a welfare state that reflects the views and votes of the people of Scotland."

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