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Friday 5 September 2014

Second reading success for George’s affordable homes

Liberal Democrat MP, Andrew George, has expressed his delight at his Affordable Homes Private Members' Bill winning the vote, by 75 votes, at the Second Reading stage in the House of Commons on Friday, 5th September. Mr George focused his Bill towards introducing significant exemptions to the Government’s Spare Room Subsidy/Bedroom Tax and promote the intermediate housing market to make home ownership affordable to more people.

Mr George, who has consistently spoken out against and voted against the Government’s Bedroom Tax/Spare Room Subsidy regulations said, “this is great news for those families who have been thrust into difficulties, uncertainty and debt by the Government's Spare Room Subsidy/Bedroom Tax. It's also good news for Parliament, democracy and for the many people who have campaigned for social justice.

Commenting Andrew George said: "This was the first opportunity to debate this Bill, but the process towards legislation will present more opportunities at each stage to, if necessary and possible, develop and strengthen components of the Bill. After now succeeding at the Second Reading, I hope I can develop and improve the Bill further with amendments at Committee Stage, on the Housing Benefit provisions and to promote the intermediate housing market to make home ownership affordable to more people.

“The main reason for this Bill is create a better set of housing circumstances for many people within my constituency and across the country. The poor have as much entitlement to a stable family home as the better off. There are better ways of solving our housing crisis than creating misery for the most vulnerable. I look forward to working with my parliamentary colleagues to produce a Bill that will address this and therefore have a profoundly positive impact on the lives of many people right across the country.”