Thousands of Britons rally against UK benefit cuts

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across more than 50 towns and cities in Britain to protest against changes to the country’s welfare system, including the controversial “bedroom tax”.

Simultaneous protests were held on Saturday in cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Belfast and Glasgow, calling for the UK government to axe the under-occupancy charge.

The “bedroom tax”, which is due to be introduced in April, refers to a cut in housing benefit for claimants whose home has a spare room.

According to the National House Federation, the new measures will cost 660,000 working-age households an average of £14 a week.

Campaigners said that the UK government’s policy will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in society, including disabled people.

In Glasgow, around 2,500 people, including trade unionists, marched from Glasgow Green to George Square in the city centre.

Around 1,000 people demonstrated outside Downing Street and Trafalgar square in London. Another thousand descended on the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

Some 200 people also gathered in Manchester city centre to protest against the government’s cuts to housing benefit for those with spare bedrooms.

Protesters on the demonstrations carried placards reading, “Axe the bedroom tax now” and “Stop bedroom tax”.