Bedroom tax plea shames Cameron
Wednesday 27 February 2013
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EmailPrime Minister David Cameron faced cries of "shame" today as he dodged an MP's protest over a disabled woman driven to despair by the government's bedroom tax.
Silence fell on the Commons as Coatbridge Labour MP Tom Clarke gravely revealed that he had received a letter from constituent Janice Martin about the looming cut in housing benefits.
"I am disabled, wheelchair dependant, suffer from brittle bones, require day and night assistance from social services, and therefore I need a spare room on health grounds," said the letter.
"I feel suicidal about this bedroom tax."
Mr Clarke glared at Mr Cameron and challenged him to put the needs of the disabled first and look again at his "disastrous policy."
Amid noisy scenes the PM retorted that "this government always puts disabled people first," adding that something must be done to cut the £23 billion housing benefit budget.
SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs spearheaded a protest debate today with Banff MP Eilidh Whiteford condemning the bedroom tax as "nasty, vindictive and unnecessary."
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