One million more families will have to pay the Bedroom Tax if the Tories win the election in May, according to figures examined by the Labour party.
These figures show that 220,000 more families would have to pay the tax each year of the five yearlong Tory government.
As it stands, of those paying the tax – which on average amounts to £14 more a week in rent for an extra bedroom and £25 for two or more – one in three are disabled and 60,000 are carers.
Labour have pledged to scrap the Bedroom Tax if they win the election. On this, Helen Goodman, Shadow Welfare Reform, said:
“The devastating effect of the Bedroom Tax has forced thousands of hard-pressed families into debt and to food banks.
“If the Tories win in May a million more households are at risk of being hit.”
More from LabourList
Local elections: Party claims council tax £300 lower in Labour councils than Tory
Union leaders demand answers over Labour handling of online selection votes
Selections, disablism code of conduct and BAME Labour – Labour NEC report