Home BY JACK MONROE. 15 NOVEMBER 2013, 0900HRS. 169 of the MPs that voted YES to the Bedroom Tax on Tuesday evening, claimed up to £25k EACH in their own “spare bedroom” expenses. The highest claim, Richard Bacon’s whopping £25k in 2012-13, could pay the Bedroom Tax for up to 30 families in his constituency for a whole year. His constituency is a three hour commute from the House of Commons, yet his accommodation expenses bill averages £450 a week. Worse yet is Stephen Barclay, whose constituency in Cambridgeshire is less than two hours away – and has the fourth highest claim on the list at over £24,000 last year. THE WORST OFFENDERS: 20131115-020132.jpg Richard Bacon (CON, South Norfolk). Claimed £25,094 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020324.jpg Karen Bradley (CON, Staffordshire Moorlands). Claimed £24,849 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020408.jpg Nigel Adams (CON, Selby and Ainsty). Claimed £24,773 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020446.jpg Stephen Barclay (CON, North East Cambridgeshire). Claimed £24,226 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020525.jpg John Hayes (CON, South Holland and The Deepings). Claimed £23,757 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020613.jpg David Morris (CON, Morecambe and Lunesdale). Claimed £23,702 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020650.jpg Daniel Poulter (CON, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich). Claimed £23,479 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020729.jpg Hugh Robertson (CON, Faversham and Mid Kent). Claimed £23,240 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020810.jpg Malcolm Bruce (LD, Gordon). Claimed £23,057 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. 20131115-020850.jpg Julian Sturdy (CON, York Outer). Claimed £22,936 in accommodation expenses. Voted FOR the bedroom tax. Yes, they might claim that their vast hotel bills are for ‘exceptional circumstances’ – yet refuse to take into account the ‘exceptional circumstances’ of the 420,000 disabled people losing around £16 a week as a result of the Bedroom Tax. Exceptional circumstances that led Melissa Jones to overdose on sleeping pills. Exceptional circumstances that have Donna Macey considering suicide as the only way out of bedroom tax arrears. Exceptional circumstances that led pensioner Charles Barden to take his own life over fears that he could not pay the bedroom tax. Exceptional circumstances that mean that a bedroom specially designed for seriously disabled Warren to hold the specialist hoists, chairs and equipment that he needs, is now costing his grandparents their health and home. Exceptional circumstances that left Stephanie Bottrill under a lorry on the M6. These are exceptional circumstances. But Richard Bacon et al have their “exceptional circumstances” funded by the taxpayer. The Melissas and Warrens and Stephanies are barely taken into account.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 22:40:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015