Welsh Tenants joined colleagues from across Britain in London to protest against the impact
of welfare reform
The Samaritans argue that taking
one’s own life is usually down to a
number of factors, but in 53-year-old
grandmother Stephanie Bottrill’s case,
she clearly states why she decided
to do just that, in a heartrending note
that explains her decision. Her story is
supported by her son Stephen and by
neighbours who witnessed her despair.
Stephanie was a victim of the UK
coalition’s bedroom tax policy and after
13 years as a good tenant (like many
other tenants), she found herself within
the definition of under-occupying by two
rooms after her children left home. As
a consequence Stephanie was asked to
contribute £80 a month that she could not
afford to pay out of her reduced benefits.
After being offered to downsize by her
landlord in Solihull, Birmingham, she packed
up her belongings in preparation for her
move, however she could not leave her
memories, friends and neighbours behind
and in the early hours of the May 4 she threw
herself in front of a lorry traveling on the M6.
The loss of Stephanie and the 660,000
other tenants impacted by the bedroom tax
will be felt by the millions of family members
that this policy will indirectly affect. While
many other aspects of the Welfare Reform
Act also cause anxiety and stress, the sheer
injustice of the bedroom tax causes the
most outrage as it callously treats decades
of investment that a family makes in their
home and community as trade for millionaire
tax cuts and the disproportionate price being
paid by the poorest in our society.
On May 11 Tenantiaid Cymru/Welsh
Tenants joined colleagues at the Benefits
Justice event in Westminster, London.
The event organised by Defend Council
Housing (DCH) and chaired by Disabled
People Against Cuts (DPAC) was supported
by hundreds of local federations across
England, Scotland and many national
trade unions. The conference resolved to
establish a national organising committee to
fight the government’s welfare reforms and
called on the Trade Union Congress to join
the fight. Speaking at the event Tenantiaid
Cymru/Welsh Tenants referred to the
policy as a ‘wrecking ball to crack a nut,
a demolition of families and community’.
Stephanie’s silent cries along with the
tens of thousands yet unheard should be
a rallying call for the social housing sector
and every public sector workers to refuse
to co-operate with this policy.
We should all ask the question, are social
housing and public sector workers doing
enough for the victims of this destructive
policy in Wales? We want to hear what
landlords and voluntary sector groups are
doing to help mitigate the impacts and the
challenges you come across. If you want to
join our campaign please contact us. A full
report of the event can be obtained from
Tenantiaid Cymru/Welsh Tenants.
Please contact
info@welshtenants.org.uk for
further information. Membership
and support is free, and so is our
loyalty to you.