Chelmsford: "Bedroom Tax" Protests

Campaigners against the so-called "bedroom tax" are protesting in Chelmsford today.

Members of action group UK Uncut will be on the High Street along with a bed to highlight the issue. 

The "bedroom tax" refers to Government policy which will see benefits cut for anyone who has an unused bedroom in their home. 

It is aimed at encouraging people with spare space to downsize to a smaller home, so larger families can get social housing and come off the waiting list. 

Chris Hicks is from UK Uncut and will be one of those protesting in Chelmsford. 

He has been telling Essex many of those forced to move out will end up worse off: "What we're talking about is moving people out of accomodation which, allegedly, is to large for them into accomodation which either doesn't exist or is in the private sector where the rents will be higher anyway". 

The Government says hundreds of thousands of people are better off now because the amount of money you earn before paying any tax has risen. 

However, Mr Hicks says that is not necessarily the case: "If you look at it overall, all the studies says the poorest in the community are getting poorer, the richest are getting richer and that's projected up to 2015 to get worse not better."