Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions’ Secretary commenting on the publication of a damning DWP report in to the Bedroom Tax, said:

“If one policy sums up the cruelty of this Tory government it’s the Bedroom Tax.

“This damning independent report published by the DWP itself, shows how this brutal and unfair policy deliberately drives people deeper and deeper in to poverty.  It’s shameful – especially in the run up to Christmas - that 80 per cent of people hit by the Bedroom Tax regularly run out of money by the end of the week or month.

“Iain Duncan Smith claimed a ‘discretionary’ pot of money would be available to help people affected, but this research makes it crystal clear that over 75 per cent of people who lose out have not received that support.  How he can continue to stand by this vile policy is beyond me.

"This report yet again shows it isn’t just cruel, but doesn’t even achieve what it set out to.  The case for scraping the Bedroom Tax is overwhelming, the Tories should learn the lessons from their tax credit U-turn and end this brutal policy.”