TORY WELFARE SPOKESPERSON CLAIMS: “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A ‘BEDROOM TAX’”

The Tory welfare spokesperson Michelle Ballantyne bizarrely claimed today that the hated Bedroom Tax did not exist showing another sign of a Tory party in denial over their own policies. 
 
During a meeting of Social Security Committee on Thursday 21st February in the Scottish Parliament, Michelle Ballantyne claimed that “there’s no such thing as a bedroom tax,” in a shocking dismissal of the Tory policy which affected 80,000 Scots.
 
SNP MSP, Colin Beattie, has called for Michelle Ballantyne to apologise for these remarks – after the MSP previously made outrageous comments about low-income families. Ms Ballantyne was widely condemned last year for refusing to apologise after declaring that the two child cap is fair as “people on benefits cannot have as many children as they like.”
 
The MSP also denied the overwhelming evidence that Tory welfare cuts have caused the surge in foodbank demand – since admitted by DWP boss Amber Rudd MP.

The Scottish Government has been mitigating the bedroom tax since it was introduced and will spend more than £61 million through Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) next year to do so again to protect people from this shocking tax that puts people at risk of rent arrears and homelessness.
 
SNP MSP Colin Beattie said:
 
“It is completely unacceptable that Michelle Ballantyne would deny reality like this.
 
“Michelle Ballantyne has previously refuted clear evidence that her party is causing surging foodbank demand, since admitted by DWP boss Amber Rudd MP. 
 
“These comments were outrageous, and her disregard for the real-life consequences of the hated ‘bedroom tax’ cannot be ignored. If Ms Ballantyne won’t apologise, Jackson Carlaw must take action.
 
“If Michelle Ballantyne is who Jackson Carlaw believes should be running the Scottish Social Security System then that speaks absolute volumes about the Scottish Tories.”