"Court case should signal the end of bedroom tax", says Councillor Kelly

Rochdale Lib Dem Leader Andy Kelly

Rochdale Lib Dem Leader Councillor Andy Kelly has spoken out against the so-called 'Bedroom Tax' after the Court of Appeal declared it '... discriminatory and unlawful.'

The Court of Appeal ruled the 'tax' discriminates against a domestic violence victim and the family of a disabled teenager.

Councillor Kelly said: "I supported the premise of dealing with the amount of spare bedrooms in much needed social housing. What I didn't support was the heavy handed manner in which it was foisted upon the most vulnerable. There was no provision, for example, for people who receive respite care. I made my feelings well known to Government ministers in the Lib Dems at the time.

"These court cases have created a precedent and I think they could spell the end of the so-called bedroom tax."

Councillor Kelly added, "Residents in Rochdale affected by the 'tax' simply had no other option than to pay. Downsizing was never an option as the houses were simply not available.

"This Government, rather than appealing this decision, needs to now go back to the drawing board. It needs to work with organisations like Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to come up with a solution to spare rooms that doesn't penalise the very vulnerable."