Minister Justin Tomlinson branded 'out of touch' for telling families to take in lodger to beat benefits cap

A minister was branded “out of touch” today after suggesting that families hit by the benefits squeeze could take in a lodger.

Welfare minister Justin Tomlinson came under fire from MPs after he tried to explain ways people have coped with the new cap on payments.

He told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee: “Some will have made other changes including in their housing costs, whether that is either moving or renegotiating what their rental housing costs are. Or they could have, for example, taken in a lodger, so there’s other circumstances other than work for some people.”

The Government has capped the total benefits someone can receive in a year at £20,000, and £23,000 for those in London, and is evaluating its impact.

Labour MP Ruth George interrupted the minister to say: “Take in a lodger? These are large families, they’ve often got three children in one bedroom, how are they going to take in a lodger?”

Mr Tomlinson replied: “If there’s three children in one bedroom then you should start joining us in supporting releasing more family homes through our spare room subsidy changes, which have helped remove half a million people off the bedroom tax.”

Following Mr Tomlinson’s remarks, Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell MP said: “This Government is out of touch and totally clueless about the damage inflicted on families and their cruel benefits system.”

And David Smith, policy director at the Residential Landlords Association, suggested the minister did not understand basic rules in tenancy agreements because most private and social housing landlords ban tenants from taking in lodgers. He added: “It shows some limitations to his knowledge of the private rental sector — which I hope he will correct quickly.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “The Minister was clear. He gave illustrative examples from departmental analysis of how some households subject to the cap may have supplemented income.

"It is wrong to suggest that he said that all households under the cap could or should consider taking a lodger.”