400% Charges Hike for Homeless

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 25th Jul 2007

Labour's 400% Cost Increase for Homelessness Charges Opposed by Lib Dems

Tenants in Manchester's temporary homeless accommodation are facing a whopping 400% increase in utility charges after the Labour Council's top level Executive voted to increase gas and electricity charges to them.

The move was branded by opposition Lib Dems.as an outrageous attack on the most poor and vulnerable people in Manchester.

Speaking at the Council meeting earlier today Cllr Paul Shannon, Deputy Leader of Manchester Liberal Democrats said:

"This is an outrageous attack on some of our most vulnerable tenants. Labour should hang their heads in shame at such a decision".

Coun Eddie Newman defended the increase by claiming that recent increase in utility charges should be passed on, and that homeless people had to have a "dose of reality" of what council services cost.

Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson Coun Marc Ramsbottom slammed the decision:

"It is the same rationale that the Victorians used to justify the workhouse. Labour should be ashamed of these inflation-busting increases, at a time when Housing coffers are in surplus to the tune of over £5 million, including £2 million unallocated".

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