Dear Alistair

As you know, tomorrow all MPs will have an opportunity to vote to end the bedroom tax. The Labour Party is absolutely clear that if we are elected in 2015 we will repeal the bedroom tax, which has caused so much distress to tens of thousands of people across Scotland.

Like me, you will have heard from community organisations, national charities and from tenants themselves about the impact that the bedroom tax has had on their lives. 82,500 households are affected and for the vast majority there is nowhere smaller to move to, hitting vulnerable people through no fault of their own.

Local Authorities and Housing Associations have also warned about the increased risk of arrears, with COSLA estimating that this may happen to 40% of tenants. We are already seeing the beginning of this, with Scottish councils facing an increase in rent arrears. Edinburgh City Council alone believes the bedroom tax has led to £1.3m of lost revenue.

Not only is this policy unjust, it is also unworkable, with the taxpayer likely to pick up a higher bill for housing benefit as tenants are forced into the private rented sector.

Earlier this year, the Deputy Prime Minister, your party leader, Nick Clegg promised a review of the bedroom tax. However, we have now found out that it will not be complete until the end of 2015 and will include no consultation with the public. While tens of thousands are affected by this tax across Scotland, the Liberal Democrats seem content with running PR exercises to try to prove you are smoothing the Tory’s rough edges.

You have been Secretary of State for Scotland for just over a month. You now have a chance to vote with people across the country who want to see the end of the bedroom tax. I hope you choose to side with them, and not the Tories, during the vote tomorrow night.

Yours sincerely


Margaret Curran MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland

Reply · Report Post