A VALE council cabinet member contesting the country’s parliamentary seat at the 2015 General Election has highlighted the impact of the Bedroom Tax on families.

Cllr Chris Elmore has together with Cardiff South & Penarth MP Stephen Doughty and AM Vaughan Gething highlighted figures released on the first anniversary of the Bedroom Tax which show that more than 4,000 people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan have been hit by the “cruel and unfair” tax. The trio have reaffirmed Labour’s pledge to scrap the tax when back in government.

Figures compiled by the DWP, for May to November 2013, show 996 in the Vale affected by the Bedroom Tax.

Stephen Doughty MP said: "The Bedroom Tax is not only causing social misery and hardship - with households already £1600 on average worse off since David Cameron entered Downing Street – but it doesn't actually save money. The housing bill is rising, not falling. Figures in the Chancellor’s own Budget have shown the housing benefit bill will continue rising, with an increase of £1billion over the next five years.”

Cllr Christopher Elmore, Labour’s candidate for the Vale, said: “Britain can’t afford another year of David Cameron and Nick Clegg’s cruel and costly tax on bedrooms. It’s time for the government to ditch the Bedroom Tax. If they don’t, then a Labour government will.”