Tommy Sheridan has told Fife campaigners they should be prepared to break the law in their fight against the “bedroom tax”.
Addressing a public meeting hosted by the Fife Anti-Bedroom Tax Campaign in the Templehall Community Centre in Kirkcaldy, Mr Sheridan said: “We have to say loud and clear that in 21st century Scotland we are not going to stand idly by and see a single poor or disabled family evicted for the crime of being poor.
“Let’s stick together and if it means breaking the law in relation to standing against the sheriff officers then let’s adopt the maxim that we would rather break the law than break the poor.”
Mr Sheridan, who is chairman of the Scottish Anti-Bedroom Tax Federation, took to the platform following speeches by Dr Carlo Morelli, senior lecturer in economics at Dundee University, Davie Nelson, chairman of Auchmuty Tenants’ Group, and Graham Sutherland, senior solicitor at Fife Law Centre who won the first four cases against the “bedroom tax”.
Mr Sheridan said it had been “very enlightening” to hear the other speakers and said the efforts of individuals was vital and must continue.
But he added: “The court battle in itself will not defeat the bedroom tax, because whenever you get a ruling in your favour you can bet your bottom dollar you will get a ruling a week later against you.
He continued: “The reality of the bedroom tax is it’s going to have to be fought on the street. It’s going to have to be fought in our communities. It’s going to have to be fought with households that are prepared to join with one another and assign a physical solidarity that is going to prevent a single family anywhere in Scotland being evicted for the crime of being poor.
“We’ve got a ConDem Government in power, the most unrepresentative government in living memory.
“They have a cabinet of 29 members 23 out of the 29 are personal millionaires. What do they know about living on benefit, living in a council house?”