POLITICIANS have hit out about the controversial 'bedroom tax', saying more than 500 families in East Renfrewshire will be hit.

Jim Murphy MP and Ken Macintosh MSP have called on the UK Government to reconsider the implementation of the tax, following concerns that families may have to move and uproot their children from their school and friends.

Figures show 403 East Renfrewshire council tenants are thought to be affected, with 127 Housing Association tenants also benefit cuts.

Mr Murphy, MP for East Renfrewshire, said: "This revelation that more than 500 local families will be affected reveals the flaws in the Government's plans.

"The Government's answer is that people should move to smaller homes.

"But here in East Renfrewshire, the council and housing associations just don't have enough alternative homes – people may be forced to move from their current home, meaning that families may find it difficult to relocate.

"The total cost to local families will be £300,000 per year.

"At a time when more should be done to help our economy grow, hundreds of thousands of pounds which could be spent in local shops and businesses is being taken away from the area."

Mr Macintosh, MSP for Eastwood and Labour's Shadow Finance spokesman at Holyrood, said: "According to these new rules, foster children and those looked after by kinship carers are not to be treated as part of the family.

"Now we find out just how many are going to be penalised simply for living in their own home.

"Most social housing has more than one bedroom, so families will be stuck between finding money that few have or moving to another area."

Under 'the bedroom tax', social housing tenants who have spare rooms will see their housing benefits cut by 14% for one extra bedroom and 25% for two or more.

fiona.mckay@ eveningtimes.co.uk