Rebecca says "Homelessness and overcrowding is making
people's lives in Redditch a real misery. The 'bedroom tax' assumes that people
who have a spare room can simply move to a smaller property, but in Redditch
the reality is that we do not have those smaller properties to give.
Pressures on Councils and Housing Associations are at breaking
point and the fundamental problem is that we need more affordable housing. When
Labour were in government we did not build enough affordable housing and
unfortunately the Conservative led government has since cut that budget by 60%.
I urge the government to use the £3 billion windfall from the 4G sale to build
100,000 much needed affordable homes.
Taking Housing Benefit from people who can downsize is one thing,
taking money away from people who have no viable alternative is quite another.
For people who cannot move, losing £18.31 a week could see
families becoming homeless, that doesn't help them or the welfare bill. Under
the Council's duty to families seeking Homeless status, figures were up 187% in
11/12 when compared to the year before".
For more info visit Bedroom tax will hit those already struggling to pay rent
Post: Work Experience Placement 3 hrs a week.
Duration: 6 months, March - September
Would you like to gain experience working with the Redditch Labour Parliamentary Candidate?
You should have an interest in making Redditch a better place to live, be organised and hardworking.
In return, you will gain skills in communication, campaigning and learn more about the challenges that affect everyday people's lives.
Applications to rebecca.blake@redditchlabour.org.uk
Please tell me about yourself (CV helpful, not necessary) and include a paragraph of approx 250 words on what you believe would make a good MP for Redditch.
If the
majority of MP's support same sex marriage today, our country will have become
an even fairer place to live in regards to equality of sexual orientation. And how apt if this should happen during LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Gender) History Month.
In a
relatively short time, we have achieved huge progress towards equality for gay
and lesbian people. The last Labour Government
introduced civil partnerships, which I am immensely proud of, the age of consent
was equalised, we made laws to protect LGBT people from being denied goods and
services, scrapped the ban against serving in the forces and increased sentences
for hate crimes to name a few changes that made our society fairer. I am in no doubt these changes have
underpinned where we are today, on the cusp of making same sex marriage law.
When
Labour brought in civil partnerships, at that time I believed they addressed the appalling inequality that existed for same sex couples, where lifeIong
partners had no legal status. Nine years
on, I can see how wrong it would be to deny people who wish to be married the
right to do so based on their sexuality.
I am
sorry that some religious groups at this stage do not feel they could offer
same sex marriages, but I am optimistic about progress, although recognise it will
take longer. I commend the Quakers, Unitarians and Reform
Judaism who will offer same sex marriages if the Bill becomes law. Interestingly in the original Bill, the government proposed that all religious organisations would be banned from conducting same sex marriages, thanks to lobbying from Labour, churches now have a choice.
I
speak to people who disagree with marriage changing, however, I feel very
strongly that as our society changes we must have a response that is fit for
purpose and as fair for all as possible.
In this case it is possible to go further and I hope Members of Parliament
will support the Bill, which is supported by the majority of people.
