Local campaigners give evidence to the United Nations on Bedroom Tax

Anti cuts and anti Bedroom Tax campaigners

Middleton Heywood & Rochdale Against the Cuts (MHRAC) & Middleton Heywood & Rochdale Against the Bedroom Tax (MHRABT) members joined a packed meeting hall in Manchester on Saturday to give evidence to the United Nations as part of the investigation into the government's 'Bedroom Tax' that is causing death and misery to thousands of poor and vulnerable in the UK.

Raquel Rolnik, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, met with the Greater Manchester Anti Bedroom Tax Federation, which includes reps from MHRAC and MHRABT at Friends Meeting House, Manchester.

"We will be spelling out in human terms the injustice, insecurity, debt and despair caused by the Bedroom Tax and other benefit cuts," said a spokesperson for local campaigners.

"Our rights to secure homes and communities are under attack with evictions already threatened," she explained.

"We are glad to welcome the UN Special Rapporteur to expose the scandal of the UK's attacks on the poorest and disabled tenants."

A spokesperson for the groups MHRAC/MHRABT said: “Many people at the hearing were visibly moved as they listened to harrowing accounts of deprivation, hardship and psychological trauma caused by this government's pernicious bedroom tax.

"The initial findings of the investigation will be announced on Wednesday.

“We fully understand the political implications, Labour MP Frank Field has commented on the recent National Office of Statistics Report saying that 'the report does not directly address the question I put to the NAO on whether the Commons should pull the plug now on the scheme. But however this NAO report is dressed up, it spells the beginning of the political end for the Universal Credit dream. Labour must and can put an alternative, sustainable insurance strategy in its place'.”

“We fully understand also that Labour Leader Ed Milliband has pledged to scrap the coalition government’s controversial Bedroom Tax levy, if Labour win a majority in 2015.

"We will be lobbying all councillors at RMBC asking them to support our campaign against the Bedroom Tax but we will be making it clear to Labour councillors that our votes are dependent on their publicly stated opposition to the Under Occupancy charge”.

The joint Secretary for MHRAC and MHRABT concluded by telling Rochdale Online: “Until such time as Rochdale Labour Council adopt a policy of no evictions for Bedroom Tax arrears and make a public statement to that affect they can not as a political party depend on our Labour vote. The Labour Party was set up to give voice to working class people in struggle. We are struggling now, many of us to maintain a roof over our heads and feed our children.

“We publicly call upon RMBC as our elected representatives to hear our voice now and support us in that struggle. We currently have a Labour majority council with 43 Labour councillors. We expect Rochdale and Heywood & Middleton Constituency Labour Party to use their majority to act decisively in the interests of those working class people and others who provided you with that majority through the ballot box.”

MHRAC and MHRABT members believe that the bedroom tax or ‘under-occupation penalty’ is unfair and unworkable. Two thirds of those affected by it nationally are disabled and the majority have no-where suitable to move to.

Discretionary Housing Payments are a short term solution that create more work for
local authorities.

A July survey by the Papworth Trust, backed by the National Housing Federation, said nine out of 10 disabled people are cutting back on food or bills to pay the bedroom tax if they are refused a safety-net housing payment. Meanwhile the cost of implementing the bedroom tax costs far more than the savings the government claimed it would make.

The Anti Bedroom Tax Federation added that the UN Special Rapporteur has said that she welcomes the opportunity to join the meeting. A spokesperson said: "She's told us that she is 'keen to get first-hand stories, insights and analysis of the situation of the right to housing in the UK, in particular of those whose rights are most at risk'."

The Special Rapporteur is on an official visit and will meet with government officials as well as Bedroom Tax campaigners throughout the UK.

Preliminary findings and recommendations will be presented at a press conference on 11 September and an official report on the visit will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its 25th session in March 2014.

People interested in attending future meetings or demonstrations can contact the group by email:

middleton.rochdale.nbt@gmail.com