Room yet to see more changes
Towards the end of her piece about the so-called bedroom tax (In the House, Mercury, February 16), Nicky Morgan MP seems to suggest social housing tenants living in homes that are under-occupied (her term, not mine) should consider moving to smaller premises.
A few years ago she would not have been able to make such a suggestion. But in the current climate, where anyone seen as unproductive to the global economy – the sick, the elderly, the disabled and the poor – are considered fair game, her comments will probably not even cause a ripple.
Indeed, that elite group, "the taxpayers", will no doubt be delighted.
They tend to forget most social housing tenants, even those who now qualify for housing benefit, are, or were, taxpayers themselves.
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Of course, owner occupiers do not have such worries. When their children leave home, they can use the spare bedroom as a hobbies space, or keep a bed in there for when the grandchildren stay over, or banish the old man there when he snores too much.
Social housing tenants, on the other hand, especially those needing to claim benefits, should move into a rabbit hutch and be damned grateful they have a roof over their heads!
Home owners should not be too complacent, though. How long will it be before they are asked to rent out their "spare" bedrooms under threat of some kind of financial penalty if they decline? Watch this space.
Bob Pfeiffer Broughton Astley.
Since the coalition took office, 422 laws have been passed because of the EU, costing £700 million for businesses and taxpayers.
One of the silly directives concerns the labelling of fruit juice. The wording "partially made with concentrate" had to be changed to "partially made from concentrate". So there are no translation difficulties for EU states was the reason given. We even have EU directives on the cost of a cabbage, light bulbs and paying utility bills.
All this ridiculous red tape is one area the Government needs to renegotiate. It is stifling business in this country.
Kevin Fletcher, Coalville.
5 Comments
by Graham_LE8
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 9:40PM
“@ reubedube & 4_Stroke; I think you mean Bob Pfeiffer; Kevin Fletcher authored the second letter hypocritically inferring to the EU as being hair-splitting on labelling (amongst other things).
Were something foreign to be purchased here with some kind of vague or unclear wording, no doubt the aforementioned Mr Fletcher or someone of his ilk would demand that something were done about it - but to achieve that we'd have to have Brussels issue some more of those despised guidelines; it cuts both ways, Kevin...”
by reubedube
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 8:59PM
“4_Stroke: Actually I was referring to both of you.”
by 4_Stroke
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 4:53PM
“Quote... As for bringing "tax-payers" into the discussion, that in my view is nonsense.
I assume that comment was aimed at the Kevin Fletcher who I was quoting!”
by reubedube
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 1:53PM
“There is of course a big difference between 'downsizing', admittedly a sensible step to take in order to maintain control of one's financial status while still ensuring that a reasonable life-style can still be maintained, and being forced to squeeze into accommodation where one cannot even have a small bedroom spare where a visiting grandchild could sleep.
As for bringing "tax-payers" into the discussion, that in my view is nonsense. I retired from work more than 20 years ago and no longer pay income tax,my pension being my only income, however,like others in my situation I still pay taxes. I won't go down that road though, I'll leave that for any critics.”
by 4_Stroke
Wednesday, February 27 2013, 11:55AM
“quote...Nicky Morgan MP seems to suggest social housing tenants living in homes that are under-occupied (her term, not mine) should consider moving to smaller premises"
Yes it's called downsizing. It's what us "elite group of tax payers" do all the time when we can no longer afford to, or need to, live in oversized accommodation.”