Nick Smith MP has attacked the Government’s Bedroom Tax cash grab after it was revealed almost £1m has been taken from Blaenau Gwent claimants.

The figures, revealed by Blaenau Gwent colleague Alun Davies AM, show  of the 1,494 people who claim housing benefit in Blaenau Gwent, they are each losing on average £11.69 a week.

This equates to £17,464.86 a week in total – or £908,172.72 lost in a year.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr Smith said a recent attempt to right this taxation wrong proved the Government had no appetite to help those in need.

“The Bedroom Tax is a broken policy that cruelly exploits the most vulnerable members of our society”, he said.

“Budgets are stretched to breaking point here in Blaenau Gwent to fund a recovery ring-fenced for the financial fat cats.

“Those who are affected have neither the reserves to compensate or the houses to move to, while jobs are still scarce.

“Last week in Parliament I shared the story of a constituent unable to share a bed with his wife due to his painful disability.

“The bedroom tax will leave his family £9.52 a week worse off.
“I’ve spoken to mums who have been left facing hundreds in debt because the tax bit in before they could find means to pay it.

“Yet despite these examples and countless more from colleagues, we lost the vote to scrap this hateful tax. 

“252 Tory and Lib Dem MPs were willing to defend a policy that inflicts hardship on children in poverty and people with disabilities.”