'Bedroom tax' rally in Hull city centre (video)
PROTESTORS blew whistles and chanted during a demonstration to scrap the so-called bedroom tax.
They gathered for the rally in Queen's Dock Avenue in Hull city centre today (Saturday) as part of 40 similar events staged across the UK.
Hull and East Yorkshire protest organiser Dermot Rathbone said the objective was to send a "clear and unequivocal" message to Downing Street.
The proposed bedroom tax will affect 660,000 people who have a spare bedroom from next month. The Government's plans will see them have their housing benefit claims reduced by £40 to £80.
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Mr Rathbone said: "We need to show the Government that they can't play politics with people's jobs and people's lives, this country belongs to us as much as it belongs to them."
Speakers including East Riding councillor Shelagh Finlay and Hull east MP Karl Turner, who spoke about the affect the tax will have on vulnerable people.
Mr Turner said: "We needed to come together for the rally today to get the public on side and raise awareness of the problems this will cause in society.
"I have been inundated with emails from constituents in east Hull who are very concerned about the bedroom tax, one from a woman who has lived in her home for 30 years and is proud of it, it's not her fault the country is in such a mess.
"This is an unfair tax which will hit people who are already struggling and it needs to be stopped."
• Gallery: Pictures from the bedroom tax protest in Hull city centre
120 Comments
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by Beaker301
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 9:18AM
“Sadly, some idiots are far too quick to judge. If you are out of work there any many mean-spirited people that will think you are just a "scrounger". Sad but true.”
by pcorran
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 6:00PM
“I would like to reply to some of the comments on here, firstly i am not a scrounger sitting on backside, i am on benefits, but i have worked all my life up until 2yrs ago, I downsized from a 4 bedroom house 3yrs ago, i am in a 2 bedroom bungalow, as i cant managed stairs, I have to pay £10.25 for my spare bedroom which measures 73 sq feet, I am disabled, this bungalow is designed for pensioners or disabled so they cant move a family in here, I am all for people downsizing when they dont need the rooms, but dont judge everyone who is on benefits, if i could go back to work i would, i tried 3 times to go back to my old job, but in the end i had to give it up as i just couldnt manage it.”
by Beaker301
Monday, March 18 2013, 7:29PM
“Well done. Bedroom tax is disgraceful. It is an attack on the individual.”
by ballen52
Monday, March 18 2013, 2:12PM
“I agree with AdPotentia completely”
by ballen52
Monday, March 18 2013, 2:08PM
“My neighbour has got 2 cars and I have nt got one
Should he be forced to give me one of his to make this a fairer society ?”
by ballen52
Monday, March 18 2013, 2:03PM
“Its so so easy to laugh
Its so easy to hate
It takes GUTS to be gentle and kind
(Morrissey)”
by Anon_Geoff
Monday, March 18 2013, 1:14PM
“Looks like the protest has worked!There is no such thing as the bedroom tax.
Let's celebrate!
(Not a tax.)”
by susieb10
Monday, March 18 2013, 10:31AM
“Seems mollypebble has upset dandrimire, of all the people commenting its only hers he,s obsessed with. Mollypebble has a right to her opinion, just like you have a right to yours. Many are in favour of this bedroom tax, many are not, I am one who is not affected at all by this but I totally understand those who are and those WHO WORK and claim TAX CREDITS and HOUSING BENEFIT. NOT ALL SCROUNGING”
by cazmarelda
Monday, March 18 2013, 9:04AM
“I agree that there should be some exemptions for the sick and disabled but they all need to be looked at on an individual basis. Even without the under-occupancy charge I do not agree with people over-occupying SH by more than one bedroom. The couple who told their story in the HDM a week or so ago in the 4-bedroomed house who do not think they should have to move or pay are totally wrong and should be ashamed that they are 'hogging' a large family size home when there are just the two of them. Some families with children will be living in over-crowded accommodation or even in a B&B and would love to have a proper home and garden. That story truly disgusted me and the fact she was disabled made no difference, there is need and there is greed, we should not confuse the two. They should be made to move, soon as. Same with those in SH who can afford, due to bringing in a good wage or more than one wage, to live in private rented or buy an home, they should not be 'hogging' subsidised housing for those in 'need'. Some people are so incredibly selfish!”
by RobTenerife
Monday, March 18 2013, 8:52AM
“The simple fact is that if you are employed, seeking work or retired and not receiving any housing benefit, you live in a property that you can afford, which might mean your kids share a bedroom. Just because you rent and receive housing benefit does not mean that all of your children should have their own bedrooms and it be paid for by the tax payer. Also the fact that you have lived in house for X years and have spare bedrooms doesn't give you the right to stay there forever and someone else pay it.”