MORE PAIN FROM THE BEDROOM TAX

Does anyone know what Labour's position is when it comes to Bedroom Tax?

The Deputy Leader of the Scottish branch of Labour says they would get rid of it tomorrow if they were in power in London. And the Welfare spokesman in the Scottish Parliament says the same. But no-one from the London party has agreed. 

Liam Byrne said that although they were opposed to the tax, they would need to look at cost implications and, when asked direct by Cameron if he would remove the tax, Miliband declined to answer.

The Scottish branch has made a lot of noise about Holyrood finding £50 million to ensure that poor or disabled people don't suffer. I imagine that they understand, having once been in government, that that £50 million will have to come from somewhere else. 

Unlike the London government Edinburgh can't just add it to their borrowings or put up income tax rate to cover it. So they Rob Peter to pay Paul. John Swinney has found £20 million in the already tight budget to do that.

SNP and Labour councils have said that, whilst they will actively pursue people for the rent arrears accumulated because of the bedroom tax, as I understand it, they will not evict them, even if by law they have to send letters warning of eviction.

There aren't enough smaller houses in the housing stock for all the people who require them, but now some people who are trying to downsize are finding that another barrier has been put in their way.

Glasgow's Wellhouse housing association has said that tenants with rent arrears will not be allowed to move to smaller houses until their arrears are paid, and furthermore they will have only restricted access to repairs while they remain in debt. Further to that they have been told that they may face further associated costs.

One victim, who asked not to be named, was sent a letter demanding £106.96 – money owed for two months worth of “under-occupancy charge”.

The letter, on official Housing Association paper, told her: “You have been placed on a restricted repairs service and if you have an application for rehousing this will be suspended.”

The letter, signed by a “Rent Assistant” also warned: “I must advise you there are costs associated with this action which would be payable by you.”

It's a real problem. Councils or Housing Associations, with the best will in the world, can't say that they will ignore arrears. That is an invitation to people to not pay.

Lessons will, I'm certain, have been learned by political figures in the SNP, Scottish Socialist and Labour parties from back in the days of the poll tax, where leading politicians led campaigns against payment resulting in people building massive debts and councils going without money.

The law is the law. No matter that Scotland voted massively against this tax; we have it and until we get a Westminster government that will repeal it, or we get rid of Westminster governments which refuse to repeal it, then we are stuck with it.

The Scottish parties, or branches, should work together to have this tax repealed, and if the London Labour management don't care about old and disabled people who have very few choices about where they live, the Scottish Labour must force them to see sense.

Of course, one answer is for us to vote ourselves the power to deal with taxation and benefits in 2014.

Given the fact that both our major parties are against it, it would quickly disappear from the statute book of an independent Scotland.