Labour’s Emma Lewell-Buck has today revealed her 5th pledge to South Shields.
Emma’s 5th pledge, chosen from ideas submitted by local people, is:
I’ll fight against the Tories’ unfair Bedroom Tax
Emma was joined by Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP on King Street this morning to launch her 5th pledge.
Emma will call on the Tory-Lib Dem Government to look again at the most unfair elements of the tax. She will fight for the parents of disabled children; those suffering long-term illness who need a room for a carer and seperated parents who have their children to stay.
South Tyneside is harder hit by the Bedroom Tax than anywhere else in the country with the avaerage working age adult losing £30 per year. 2961 people are effected but there are only 124 one or two bedroom properties available.
This was the biggest issue that came up when Emma asked people in South Shields to let her know what her 5th Pledge should be.
Emma Lewell-Buck, Labour’s candidate for South Shields, said:
“I asked people in South Shields what my 5th Pledge should be and the biggest issue that came up was the Government’s unfair Bedroom Tax.
“Out of the whole country South Tyneside is hardest hit by Bedroom Tax and many of the people who are affected really do need the extra room. We are talking about people with long term illnesses who need a room for carers, families with disabled children and seperated parents who have their children to stay.
“What makes it worse is that there aren’t nearly enough 1 or 2 bedroom houses in South Tyneside for people to move into anyway. This unfair tax will not solve under occupancy but it will hit some of the most vulnerable households in South Shields.
“Today I pledge to do everything I can to fight for those people in South Shields unfairly hit by Bedroom Tax and call on the Tory-Lib Dem Government to look again at the most unfair elements of the tax.”