The Government’s proposed bedroom tax will “uproot families, wrench children away from schools, and tear people from their roots”, Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas will say in an Opposition Day debate tomorrow in Parliament.

Speaking ahead of the debate, which Caroline is leading together with MPs from Plaid Cymru and SNP, she said:

"The so-called 'bedroom tax' is a cruel and counterproductive measure from a Government that is intent on punishing the poor.

"It would uproot families from their homes, wrench children away from schools and friends, and tear people from their roots, wider family and support networks.

"Over two thirds of those affected are likely to be people with disabilities, with the National Housing Federation estimating that 100,000 tenants who live in homes specially adapted to their needs are set to be affected.

"Encouraging these tenants to move would not be cost-effective as new properties would need to be adapted while aids and adaptations would be stripped out of vacated homes.

"And when I quizzed Ministers over whether there is a match between the number of available properties in the social housing sector in Brighton Pavilion to enable tenants to move to smaller properties, it was clear that the Government had made no attempt to find out.

"There is no evidence that all this will save the Government money, but what it will do is lead to mass evictions and homelessness, and all the related problems that brings to our communities."

ENDS