Everyone knows that the main parties have little
understanding of environmental issues.
The Green Party therefore are the only party it seems with sensible
policies on this matter. What many do
not realise is that the Green’s may be the only party left that fights for
social justice.
It’s this frustration that led me to write in once more
to the local press to highlight the controversial welfare reforms passing
through parliament.
Dear
Editor
I’ve become increasingly despondent about the lack
of sympathy my Lib Dem MP Tom Brake appears to have for people
poverty. Not only is he silent about the myths spread by his
government about people in poverty, he actively promotes the idea that we
shouldn’t “subsidise” people on housing benefit to stay in London.
David Cameron says the polls so show the public are
on the government’s side. But would the public support these cuts if we
asked them a different question?
For example – Should we cap housing benefit to poor
families in private rented accommodation so they end up leaving London as we
have not built enough affordable housing? Are we happy to put thousands of
children in B+Bs in deprived areas where their parents are less likely to work at a
larger cost to the taxpayer even though many were in work but paid so little
they we’re still reliant on benefits?
Fortunately, The Lords are challenging the
Government because they look at the evidence. They realise that not only
will these cuts cost the taxpayer more not less, they understand the hardship
the likes of cancer patients or disabled children will face from the welfare
reforms. Croydon will be one of the hardest hit areas by the housing
benefit cap according to the government and I think our MPs need to tell the
truth about the damage that will be done to our community.
As has been the case in the past, Tom replied in the
press. Perhaps it’s because he is genuinely
concerned about what is happening to Londoners – or maybe the truth is that his
real worry is about losing some of those floating voters.
Disappointingly, but
rather predictably there was no response to my questions just the standard
reiteration of the extent of the problem this government faces whilst ignoring
the evidence that some of these reforms will actually cost the taxpayer. It's no wonder many of us believe that the Welfare Reform Bill is just part of the Tory ideology forced on us with the support of the Lib Dems .
