Labour’s leader of North Lanarkshire Council Jim McCabe
In the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform committee – on the 26th March (yesterday) Labour’s leader of North Lanarkshire Council Jim McCabe said:
“With the greatest respect to Dundee and I respect their decision or any other council to say no we’re not going to evict …
“you’re opening a door to a certain extent to some people who may take advantage of that.”He continued:
“What I said about councils doing their own thing – they will do that. It’s different strokes for different folks. What suits Dundee might not suit north Lanarkshire and what suits the highlands might not suit the borders, in all instances. …
“Councils will make their own mind up how best to attack this, but at least we can look at each other’s practices to see which one fits us.” (86 min)VIDEO LINK: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/newsandmediacentre/48429.aspx
Labour’s actions hide IDS’s Bedroom Tax blushes
Wed, 27/03/2013 – 15:51
SNP Councils are committed to putting in place a no eviction policy for people who are trying to pay rent but can’t because of the bedroom tax.
The SNP has committed to abolition of the bedroom tax once the Scottish Parliament has the powers to do so.
In contrast Labour have failed to act locally and have refused to abolish the tax nationally:
1. Labour’s shadow minister Helen Goodman says Labour would keep the bedroom tax:
“We’ve said that the bedroom tax should only apply if people have been offered a smaller place to live and turned it down because, obviously, it is better to use the housing stock more efficiently.”[BBC Daily Politics, 11th March]
2. Tory/Labour councils in Aberdeen and Falkirk have refused to follow SNP-led Dundee and prevent evictions where people affected by the bedroom tax are trying to pay their rent.
Labour councillors in Dundee opposed the SNP administration’s decision to stop evictions where efforts to pay are being made.
3. Labour councils do not want national legislation – In the Welfare Reform committee – on the 26th March (yesterday) Labour’s leader of North Lanarkshire Council Jim McCabe said:
“With the greatest respect to Dundee and I respect their decision or any other council to say no we’re not going to evict - you’re opening a door to a certain extent to some people who may take advantage of that.”He continued:
“What I said about councils doing their own thing – they will do that. It’s different strokes for different folks. What suits Dundee might not suit north Lanarkshire and what suits the highlands might not suit the borders, in all instances. … Councils will make their own mind up how best to attack this, but at least we can look at each other’s practices to see which one fits us.” (86 min)4. Labour’s leader and their Health spokesperson Jackie Baillie have not signed the petition calling for legislation, despite claiming today that they support it.
Speaking after Labour attempted to cover up their failings with a call for emergency legislation, SNP MSP Kevin Stewart – who sits on the Welfare Reform Committee – said:
“The SNP is opposed to the bedroom tax and with the powers of independence we will scrap the tax in Scotland.
“Today the man responsible for the bedroom tax is in Scotland and should rightly be taken to task for the damage the bedroom tax is doing.
“Instead, Labour have tried to cover up for their no campaign colleague with an ill thought-out, misleading and cack-handed attempt to attack the SNP.
“Responsibility for the bedroom tax lies firmly with Westminster and a UK system that means it can be imposed on Scotland despite the objections of a majority of Scots MPs.
“Without the powers of independence the Scottish Parliament cannot stop the bedroom tax, but we can and we will do what we can to help those affected. That’s why SNP councils will put in place no eviction policies and the Scottish Government has provided funding to help those affected.
“I welcome genuine opposition to the bedroom tax from Labour – but until they understand that it needs scrapped completely and the Scottish Parliament needs the powers to scrap it, then they are simply covering up for their no campaign colleagues.”
