To many critics of the so-called
bedroom tax, the tragic suicide of Stephanie Bottrill in May last year was
proof this is the most monstrous measure dreamt up by the Coalition Government.
Before she walked into the path of a
lorry, Miss Bottrill left a note to her son, Steven, in which she wrote: ‘The
only people to blame are the Government.’
Understandably in the circumstances,
Steven declared that the Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, had
‘blood on his hands’.
Less forgivable was the response of
David Jamieson, leader of the Labour Group in Solihull at the time. He claimed
the ‘cruel’ tax had ‘brought about this tragedy’.
But did it? An inquest into Miss
Bottrill’s death heard from her GP on Tuesday that she had been treated for
depression ‘on and off’ since 1993, and had attempted suicide in 2005.
In the view of her brother, Kevin
Owens, the prospect that the ‘bedroom tax’ would require her to move from her
three-bedroom terrace house to a smaller bungalow — or lose £80 a month in
housing benefit — may have been the ‘catalyst’ to her suicide, but his sister
had been troubled.
As it happens, Mr Owens supports the
‘bedroom tax’ for social housing. He said: ‘It’s terrible that people are
crammed into one or two-bedroom flats with children while others sit on
three-bedroom houses’. Isn’t he right?
I don’t believe Mr Duncan Smith has
blood on his hands, though Work and Pensions officials were gravely at fault in
telling Miss Bottrill that she would have to move or lose £80 a month. It turns
out that as a long-term tenant who had claimed benefits continuously she was
exempt from the cut.
A terrible administrative error was
made that may well have contributed to her death, but it is ridiculous to try
to pin the blame on Mr Duncan Smith or the ‘bedroom tax’.
Comment:
The unfortunate death of this lady
through suicide is a tragedy, she was
someone with long term mental health issues,
who felt that she couldn’t continue, and saw no other option but to take
our own life, to blame the so called “ Bedroom Tax” and the Work and Pensions
Secretary Iain Duncan –Smith for her death is unfounded, Britain’s benefit bill is increasing, for many living on benefits can be lifestyle
choice, however for others it is necessary
short-term safety net.
