Benefit reforms could hurt poorest Medway wards

Tonight there are very real concerns that the Tory plans will see a mass exodus of 200,000 residents into areas of Hertfordshire, Essex and Kent.

Wards in Chatham and Rochester are some of the poorest in Kent with a number in very low-rent areas. These are likely to be areas that London Councils will consider for migration of benefit claimants, should the Conservative cap go through.

Our Council is under enough pressure with resources before any major move or forced mass exodus from central London.

Tories are once again targeting the vulnerable. Not only do those who are forced to move suffer, but the communities they move to, will be stretched to cope.

Our Conservative MPs need to oppose these forced evictions. Our Council is already under enough pressure, and we do not desire, nor wish, to have even more people using stretched services at a time of austerity.

Cameron's stubbornness harms Medway. Its time our MPs put our area first and oppose these reforms.