‘Sinn Fein abetted assault on the vulnerable’ – Newry Councillor Kevin McAteer

SDLP Newry Councillor Kevin McAteer has criticised Sinn Fein for their introduction of the Bedroom Tax.

Councillor Kevin McAteer

Highlighting the devastating effect the tax will have on families and the disabled, Councillor McAteer accused Sinn Fein of implementing a campaign of ‘distraction and backpedalling to mask their complicity in the implementation of austerity policies’.

Councillor McAteer said, “The days following the passing of the bedroom tax bore witness to one of the most extensive campaigns of distraction and backpedalling from Sinn Fein who have been exposed as complicit in the implementation of Tory Cuts.

“Despite voicing their opposition to the bedroom tax on multiple occasions and despite explicitly stating that they would use the petition of concern to block it the fact remains that they failed to sign our petition.

“Their silence has resulted in a severe blow to the hard pressed public who along with the austerity budget introduced by Sinn Fein/DUP must now suffer the indignity of a new tax,” he insisted.

“The public must not allow Sinn Fein to hide from this. The bedroom tax has been delayed not defeated and will likely be introduced sooner rather than later. This tax will be far reaching and devastating to hard working families and the disabled who often need more space to live comfortably.

McAteer added, “We have opposed this tax at every stage, at the Executive table and in the Assembly. When our amendments to the welfare reform were quashed by the DUP, Sinn Fein abetted an assault on the most vulnerable in our society. It is clear that the same thing has happened with Bedroom Tax.”

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Posted by Newry Times News on Feb 23 2015. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry