Around 70 people gathered outside of a Northampton church to protest against Bedroom tax.
The protest was the second to be held in the town centre and took place outside of All Saints church in George Row at about 1pm today.
Organiser Anjona Roy said: “There hasn’t been any change since the last protest. If anything things have got worse. I think the protest is about letting people know that this hasn’t gone away as an issue.
“It’s for people who are in council and social housing. It’s good to know that there is solidarity on this issue.
“This is a more high profile protest than the first one.”
Introduced on April 1, the new rule means that the amount of housing benefit given to working age claimants will be cut if they are considered to have a spare, unused bedroom.
The move applies to tenants renting from a local authority, housing association or other registered social landlord.
According to Northampton Borough Council, about 1,000 of its 12,000 council tenants will be affected by this aspect of welfare reform, as well as 650 people in private, rented accommodation. The council currently has a council house waiting list of 4,000.
Groups including Defend Council Housing, Disabled People Against the Cuts, The Green Party and Northampton Trade Union Council attended the protest.
Councillor John McGhee (Lab, Kingswood), who is leader of the labour group in Northampton, said: “It’s the most unfair and disgusting tax since the poll tax. The tax targets the most vulnerable, including the disabled and the young.”