The Liberal Democrats revealed shocking figures that shows that Gordon Brown and the Government “need to get grip” with housing benefits following a parliamentary question that revealed fifty families collecting £50,000 a year in housing benefits. 

In response to the parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minster, Sarah Teather; Works and Pensions Minister Helen Grove revealed the claimants were receiving a staggering £965 each week to pay rent on their homes last year.  

Another 3,290 are being paid more than £385 a week for housing – over £20,000 a year. 

In total, it is believed that the cost to the taxpayer was at least £68million every year according to the Government Minister. This latest news comes shortly after an earlier scandal over families ‘living in mansions’ on housing benefit. 

The Liberal Democrats have claimed that the Government have failed to tackle the scandal, despite promises.  

Sarah Teather said: “Labour’s failure to build more social housing is directly responsible for the soaring housing benefits bill.  

“With huge numbers of council homes flogged off or sitting empty, families on the waiting list are forced into private homes at steep rents.  

“Gordon Brown needs to get a grip.”