'Bedroom tax could be the new poll tax'
PROTESTERS turned out to a rally on College Green to show their opposition to the Government's so-called bedroom tax.
About 200 Labour politicians and anti-cuts campaigners attended the demonstration to oppose the controversial tax, which will target benefit claimants deemed to have spare bedrooms.
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'Bedroom tax' protest in Bristol
Campaigners held aloft placards stating 'No to the bedroom tax' and 'Fight the cuts' during the one-hour rally on Saturday lunchtime, part of a national day of action.
Drivers travelling along Park Street beeped their horns in support of the demonstration as speakers including prospective Labour MP for Bristol West Thangam Debbonaire, Labour city councillor Ron Stone and Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy addressed the crowd.
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The city council has released figures which show that an estimated 4,714 households will be affected by the tax in Bristol from next month.
In Bristol, Labour says council tenants with one spare bedroom will lose £11 a week and for those in low rent housing association accommodation, £16.64.
Council tenants with two spare bedrooms would lose £21 a week and housing association tenants, £29.27 a week.
The worst-hit ward in the city will be Lawrence Hill where 460 households will be affected and who will lose an average £728 a year in benefits.
The rally's organiser Ms Debbonaire has called for the bedroom tax to be repealed, suggesting it should be replaced by a mansion tax.
She said: "Members of the public have been saying they are concerned and are beginning to see the tax is really nasty and will affect people who are already vulnerable.
"This is coming in the same week millionaires are getting a £40,000 tax break. If the Government wants a tax, they could have a mansion tax – let's have a tax on people who can actually afford it rather than on those who can't."
Ms Debbonaire said the tax could affect disabled people who use a spare room to store mobility aids, those who have a spare room to accommodate a carer and families with students away studying at university who return home during the holidays.
She said: "I have spoken to people who have been affected directly, they are in debt and low-paid families in part-time or low-paid work and just getting by at the moment."
Ms Debbonaire said any housing benefit reform should be targeted at private landlords providing substandard housing at "astronomical" prices, by placing a cap on rental charges.
Robin Clapp, assistant secretary of the Bristol Anti-Cuts Alliance, said he could see parallels between the bedroom tax protest and the protests against the poll tax in the 1990s.
He said: "This tax has the potential to be the new poll tax and we will take action against those who stigmatise poor people and take them out of their homes.
"There are 100 protests taking place including in places like Tiverton in Devon, where very little usually happens. This tax has sparked people who have noticed the great unfairness in it."
Addressing the crowd over a megaphone, Laura Weltie, of the Bristol Disability Equality Forum, said: "It doesn't matter who you support, what we need to do is say this is too much and we are not going to have two per cent of the population taking 15 per cent of the brunt of the cuts."
Labour city councillor Mr Stone told the protest that it was essential that more homes were built in Bristol to tackle the council's 16,000-strong housing waiting list.
He suggested solving the housing crisis by tapping into the city council's pension fund which was currently valued at £2.2 billion.
43 Comments
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by Brandon_Hill
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 2:39PM
“Since I don't get housing benefit, I wouldn't be affected by this ridiculous, deliberately undermining benefit cut or "bedroom tax"”
by ToryToMyGrave
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 2:17PM
“Now now @Brandon_Hill, you wouldn't want to get done for tax evasion would you?”
by Brandon_Hill
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:12AM
“If anyone reading these comments is affected by this disgusting tax. There might be a way to avoid such injustice:
http://tinyurl.com/d6nyn23”
by Brandon_Hill
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:12AM
“If anyone reading these comments is affected by this disgusting tax. There might be a way to avoid such injustice:
http://tinyurl.com/d6nyn23”
by Brandon_Hill
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 11:11AM
“If anyone reading these comments is affected by this disgusting tax. There might be a way to avoid such injustice:
http://tinyurl.com/d6nyn23”
by deep-heat
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:49AM
“I realise that the majority of those people talking about a 'bedroom tax' are fully aware that it is no such thing. It is a reduction in benefits. Unfortunately, when the crux of many arguments here is to go on about the high taxing Tories, or to call for a mansion tax in its place it becomes clear that by simply using this term they are allowing any rational argument to go by the wayside.
The 'mansion tax' is relevant because.... er..... they're both to do with houses? Think that's about it. One assumes that the same people calling for a mansion tax would also approve of a tax on savings similar to what may happen in Cyprus - after all the philosophy here seems to be that if you have been successful, any assets you have worked hard for should be deemed fair game for the state.
The left's willingness to tolerate or in some cases encourage resentment of anyone who earns over a certain amount (no-one of significance is brave enough to actually say what the earnings threshold is before a person can be deemeed a 'fat cat' and therefore become the subject of public spite) is as tiresome as the right's willingness to perpetuate the myth that everyone on benefits is a scrounger. There are good rich people there are good poor people. ANd there are bad of both as well.
I have nothing against the people who will lose out as a result of the single room rate. The majority of them work hard or would choose to work hard were they able or if they had the chance. Obviously some of them will be trying to avoid work at all costs, but you can't judge a whole raft of people by the actions of a minority. And you can't judge it by comparing them to someone richer than them. This is about effective use of state assets - virtually all of us have a stake in the efficient use of these assets through payment of our taxes. I work for a housing association. On eof our tenants became homeless after her partner became abusive. She has three children. They live in a two-bedroom house. She works part time. I do not think it fair that while she tries to rebuild her life, the state supports people to live in homes that are too big for them. Only a one-off example and a rather extreme one I know.
Yes, it would be lovely to build more houses, but how do we fund it? People again resort to the mansion tax, the 50p rate and other arguments forgetting that a) these measures would not be sufficient to fund any meaningful housebuilding alone, and b) that the money gained from these taxes would likely be offset by the broader economic impact of people who have the luxury of choosing what country to live in leaving Britain and the message being sent out by government that any wealth creation would come at an increasingly high cost. Peopl argue that we can live without the 'bankers' etc in London. The reality is that tax revenues generated in the South East subsidise the entirity of our country. Actually, if we want to maintain or even improve standards of living for the poorest in our society, we need the horrible 'fat cats.'
(And yes, some of these people were responsible for the market crash, but only some of them. Not most of them, not even a sizable minority of them. Just like with poor people on benefits, you can't judge them all by a minority.)”
by BristolMark2
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 1:31AM
“@bristolexpat
"60% voted for the government as it is today".
Aside from adding a percentage point, you're making the assumption that ALL Lib Dem voters approved of the Con-Lib coalition. They certainly didn't, I don't even think the majority did.
You're also effectively claiming this high percentage gave them a strong mandate. It didn't. The splitting of votes between the 3 main parties was indicative of the most divided electorate since 1923. That is not an expression of support for tory policies, whatever way you look at it.”
by Pasty3
Monday, March 18 2013, 8:48PM
“I live in a 2 bed flat with my wife and 6month old, I can't afford a house yet.
I pay more than 10,000 a year in tax
I suspect that there are many young families in Bristol and London in the same situation as us.
Why should someone be paid housing benefit to live in the 3 bed house I cant afford when their family is the same size as mine?
Please explain to me how this is "fair"”
by Bristolexpat
Monday, March 18 2013, 7:42PM
“@brandon hill
60% voted for the government as it is today.
2 of 3 major political parties involved in running the country
This is probably the most representative government of the "whole society" we have seen in decades
Admittedly those with their minority views such as yourself, these protesters and the Labour lackys all have to shout a bit louder now but that's democracy for ya
Always remember, just because one group make a lot of noise, doesn't mean they are representing the majority of the people.”
by Bristolexpat
Monday, March 18 2013, 7:42PM
“@brandon hill
60% voted for the government as it is today.
2 of 3 major political parties involved in running the country
This is probably the most representative government of the "whole society" we have seen in decades
Admittedly those with their minority views such as yourself, these protesters and the Labour lackys all have to shout a bit louder now but that's democracy for ya
Always remember, just because one group make a lot of noise, doesn't mean they are representing the majority of the people.”