Chris Bryant MP, Labour’s Shadow Welfare Reform Minister, commenting after Esther McVey admitted that the Bedroom Tax “was never all about saving money”, said:

“Esther McVey’s admission that the government’s Bedroom Tax isn’t even saving money shows why this unfair policy should be scrapped.

“Under this government housing benefit bills are rising, not falling and the Bedroom Tax has forced thousands into debt and to rely on food banks to survive. The loophole in the government’s legislation which has led to more than 20,000 people being wrongly charged the Bedroom Tax threatens to cost taxpayers millions of pounds.

“The Bedroom Tax is cruel and unfair and, as we have repeatedly warned, risks costing more than it saves. The Government should ditch it - if it doesn’t then a Labour government will.”


Transcript of BBC Radio 5 Live, 28th March 2014, 0727 Hrs:

Rachel Burden: How much money has the government saved through this policy?

Esther McVey MP, Employment Minister: But it was never all about saving money…