Delegates condemned the bedroom tax as
a “vicious, outrageous attack on
the poorest” and called for it to
be scrapped immediately.
Congress demanded that there should be
no evictions as a result of the bedroom
tax, and that Scottish law be enacted
to underpin this position. It also called
for a campaign across councils, politicians,
the Scottish Government and tenants groups
to demand back the £billions stolen
by Westminster, and that Labour MPs take
motions to parliament demanding a repeal
of this “economically unjustified,
socially destructive” measure.
Making his first speech to Congress,
Paul Gupta, UNISON told delegates that
“only a moron in a hurry, or someone
with no trace of compassion, or sympathy,
or basic human decency, or perhaps Iain
Duncan Smith,” could fail to see
that with hundreds of thousands of people
on waiting lists, the smaller homes that
people need just don’t exist, or
the cruelty in forcing the poor and vulnerable
out of their homes.
He said that we must prevent future suffering
caused by the bedroom tax but also called
for measures to repair the damage already
done.
“The fear and anxiety of those
who have been unable to pay their rent
because of this iniquitous measure is
obvious,” said Paul. “Less
obvious is the struggle and sacrifice
of those who despite benefits cuts have
paid their rent in full,” said Paul,
calling for all those who have lost out
to be reimbursed.
He warned, however, that this was not
a “get off scot free pledge”
for non-payment of rent. “It is
restitution for the bedroom tax we are
talking about here,” said Paul,
“Not a freeloaders’ charter.”
He asked delegates to recognise that
Labour has been active on this issue in
Scotland, but called for them to bring
forward proposals in Westminster “to
rid us of this measure before the next
General Election” and to make sure
all their MPs turn up to support it.
