Plaid oppose introduction of the ‘Bedroom Tax’

Plaid Cymru Llanelli have called for immediate action to protect the most vulnerable in society against the U.K Government welfare reforms and implementation of a ‘Bedroom Tax’ which will have a devastating impact on our communities locally.

Sean Rees, Plaid Llanelli Communications Officer said:

“Following a freedom of information request, we have now discovered that over 1,341 households across Carmarthenshire are to be affected as a result of these changes, 828 of those tenants will be residents living in Llanelli.

The implementation of a Bedroom Tax will lead to a growing dependency on local foodbanks within our communities and a further increase in homelessness.

We are also very concerned to discover that there has also been a gradual increase in the number of homeless families being put up in B&B accommodation locally. The cost of an average B&B can be anything from £25 to a staggering £90 per night. Why should the most vulnerable pay for the mistakes of the bankers and the mismanagement of successive Westminster Governments”.

Plaid Cymru Mid and West AM Simon Thomas added:

“Plaid Cymru has led calls upon the Government in London to abolish its unjust and unworkable housing under-occupancy penalty or ‘Bedroom Tax.’ There is growing anger in Wales about the introduction of the Bedroom Tax. Plaid Cymru MPs led a debate on this issue in the House of Commons and in the Senedd we have had a debate on the impact of the recession on women.

The Bedroom Tax is a politically-directed exercise to save money at the expense of some of Welsh society’s most vulnerable. The action by the Westminster government will lead to a costly legacy for the people of Llanelli. It is also sad to see that Labour if elected as the government in Westminster are unlikely to reverse this decision.

As with most cuts imposed by Westminster, Wales is set to suffer disproportionately due to our high number of housing benefit and Disability Living claimants.”