At a full council meeting today my attempts to stop residents being evicted from their homes if they couldn’t afford to pay the under-occupancy charge (Bedroom Tax) were stopped by the Labour run council.

Was it because Labour councillors didn’t agree with me? No – afterwards some were furious they couldn’t debate my proposal.

Was it because the policy wasn’t workable? No

How about because it couldn’t be afforded? No – because actually it would cost very little.

No, it was rejected because we ran out of time and the Council refused to even allow a vote on extending the debating time for five or ten minutes more – which councillors are perfectly allowed to do.

I have known meetings run on for another 45 minutes and the Cabinet meeting today wasn’t for another hour and a half.

So now the council can continue its policy of evicting someone who gets into arrears on their rent through no fault of their own because of this crazy, ill thought out law.

Thank goodness the Lib Dem conference yesterday voted to push for a review of the policy.

As for Labour in Durham – five minutes of extra time to help the most vulnerable? No chance – Councillors do need their lunch you know! Heartless, shameful, you couldn’t make it up