Bedroom Tax change must be implemented urgently say Wiltshire Lib Dems

Lib Dems in Local Government have welcomed Nick Cleg's call for a major change to the Spare Room Subsidy - also known as the "Bedroom Tax".

This is after new government research proved that only one in 20 affected had been able to move to a smaller home and that more people were facing rent arrears. Lib Dem ministers are calling for disabled adults to be automatically exempt and for people to only lose some benefit if they are offered a suitable smaller home but choose not to move.

Cllr Jon Hubbard, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Wiltshire Council, said: "As people who are close to our local communities, Lib Dem Councillors not only here in Wiltshire but also up and down the length and bredth of the United Kingdom have had serious reservations about this policy from the start. We hoped that the upside of this policy would free up properties for those in overcrowded accommodation, but this clearly has not happened on a large enough scale. People have ended up paying the difference, further cutting into their already stretched budgets".

"We are pleased that Nick Clegg has now listened to the concerns Lib Dem Councillors have been raising.

"We call on the Conservatives in the Government to support the Lib Dem call for urgent reform. While we recognise that this will be a manifesto commitment if it doesn't get implemented earlier, the time to act is now".