Andrew George steps up his campaign to ‘scrap the bedroom tax’
West Cornwall MP Andrew George, who led the successful campaign in Parliament with a Bill to scrap the Tory ‘Bedroom Tax’ has today launched a petition in an attempt to stop PM David Cameron from sabotaging his proposed legislation. He is urging people across the country to support the campaign.
The House of Commons voted overwhelmingly at Second Reading stage (by 75 votes) to support Andrew’s Bill, but Tory Ministers are refusing to grant money for his Affordable Homes Private Members’ Bill. This underhand device has not been used by any Government for decades. Andrew accused the Prime Minister of “abusing his power” to defy the will of Parliament.
Mr George contrasted the unjust ‘Bedroom Tax’ with the tax subsidy given to wealthy second homers when the Conservatives were last in power on their own; the Tories gave hundreds of £millions each year in a Council Tax discount to second home owners – even though thousands of locals couldn’t afford their first home.
Mr George said, “Parliament overwhelmingly voted to get rid of the Bedroom Tax and yet still the Tories are prepared to try any underhand method to sabotage this Bill.
“The Tories penalise the poor if they believe they’re under-occupying their council home, but reward the wealthy if they under occupy their second home.
“All I’m doing is to ask the Tories to respect the democratic will of Parliament. That is why I am launching my petition to demand that the PM listens to the country and to Parliament.”
Mr George’s Bill is currently “adjourned” at its Committee stage, awaiting a change of heart from the Conservative side of the Coalition Government. He believes that, if a money resolution is granted by the end of January, there’s still time for both Houses of Parliament to get the legislation through before the General Election.
1. Mr George’s Petition, as follows:-
PETITION: Back Andrew George’s Bill to scrap the Tory Bedroom Tax today:-
To: The Prime Minister, David Cameron
We, the undersigned, call on you to respect the clear will of Parliament and to let Andrew George MP’s Bill to scrap the ‘Bedroom Tax’ proceed into law.
http://www.andrewgeorge.org.uk/petition-back-andrew-george-bill-scrap-tory-bedroom-tax-today/
2. Mr George’s Early Day Motion, as follows:-
GOVERNMENT PRACTICE IN TABLING MOTIONS FOR MONEY RESOLUTIONS) – as follows:-
- Session: 2014-15
- Date tabled: 26.11.2014
- Primary sponsor: George, Andrew
- Sponsors:
That this House notes that the Affordable Homes Bill, which seeks to combat the worst effects of the Government’s under-occupancy penalty, also known as the bedroom tax, was approved by the House on Second Reading by a remarkable 306 to 231 votes on 5 September 2014; regrets, however, that Conservative Ministers have chosen to abuse the privilege of executive power by resorting to deploying a rarely-used underhand device of not tabling a motion for a Money Resolution for the Bill, in their attempt to sabotage it and thereby defy the clearly-expressed will of the House; further notes that the Deputy Prime Minister has made it clear that a motion for a Money Resolution will be tabled for the Conservatives’ EU Referendum Bill once a Money Resolution is agreed to for the Affordable Homes Bill which precedes it; and therefore calls on the Government to table a motion for a Money Resolution to allow the Affordable Homes Bill to proceed beyond the Committee stage.
– 50 signatures to date: