UN call to scrap Westminster's Bedroom Tax welcomed by Sinn Féin

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘Sinn Féin have from the outset stated that the current Tory-driven welfare cuts are not about streamlining the welfare system but designed to make stringent cuts’

A UNITED NATIONS special investigator on housing's declaration after a fact-finding visit to Belfast and other cities that the Westminster Government should scrap its ‘Bedroom Tax’ as it could breach human rights vindicates Sinn Féin’s opposition to the tax, Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann has said.

Since 1 April 2013, new housing benefit rules mean people can’t get housing benefit to pay for all of their rent if their home has 'spare bedrooms', even if the ‘spare’ rooms are for:-

⚫ Children visiting a divorced or separated parent;

⚫ Couples who use separate bedrooms because of illness or disability;

⚫ Use by disabled adults to store medical equipment.

UN investigator Raquel Rolnik travelled to Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and London, visiting council estates, food banks, homelessness crisis centres, Traveller sites and new housing association developments.

The former urban planning minister in Brazil told The Guardian newspaper:

“My immediate recommendation is that the Bedroom Tax is abolished.”

At the 2013 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said that if the Bedroom Tax was brought before the Assembly then Sinn Féin would move to block it.

Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann said today in response to Raquel Rolnik’s comments:

“Sinn Féin have from the outset stated that the current Tory-driven welfare cuts are not about streamlining the welfare system but designed to make stringent cuts. Those primarily affected by these cuts are the most vulnerable in our society.

“The findings by Raquel Rolnik, the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing, have shown further evidence of the grossly negative impact these cuts will have on the most vulnerable in society.

“Ms Rolnik’s assertion that the Bedroom Tax could constitute a breach in human rights in several ways and that it should be abolished is welcome yet not surprising given the effects that the roll-out of such a tax would have in the North.

“We in Sinn Féin have said that if this is introduced in the North it will devastate many communities. This tax is wrong as it hits at those most in need.

“The British Government must now take these finding on board and act to ensure that those who are most vulnerable in our society receive the assistance and protection that they need.”