A United Nations official has refused to back down over criticism of the so-called bedroom tax after calls from Tory chairman Grant Shapps for her to apologise.
Raquel Rolnik, the UN special rapporteur on housing, stood by her attack on the policy, which she said was causing ‘great stress and anxiety’ to ‘very vulnerable’ people.
She insisted that her visit to inspect housing in the UK had been on the invitation of the Government, and said she had met housing minister Don Foster and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles during her stay.
Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps labelled Raquel Rolnik’s verdict of the spare room subsidy as ‘disgraceful’.Ms Rolnik added that she had been ‘deeply touched’ by the testimonies she had heard from people affected by the policy.
She said ‘many people’ increasingly had to choose between food and having to pay the ‘penalty’.
Ms Rolnik’s remarks came after Mr Shapps said he had written to UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon demanding an apology and explanation for her ‘disgraceful’ comments.
