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Cardiff protesters hold rally against benefit changes

  • Published
Media caption,

Jude Rowland explained why she was opposed to the changes

About 200 people took part in a demonstration in Cardiff against changes to the benefits system which have been described as a "bedroom tax".

Housing association and council tenants of working age will see benefits cut if they are deemed to have spare bedrooms.

From next week it means a 14% cut for one spare room and 25% for two.

The UK Government says such tenants should contribute to rent if a home is bigger than needed, but the Welsh government is "extremely concerned".

Media caption,

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies tells Vaughan Roderick he believes the new system is fair.

Protesters gathered outside City Hall on Saturday for the event organised by Cardiff and South Wales Against the Bedroom Tax, angry at the plans.

Adam Johannes from the group said: "People invest in their homes - gardens, DIY, decorating, memories - and now we have a government of millionaires who are telling poor people their homes are too big and introducing a bedroom tax on the poor instead of a mansion tax on the rich."

The UK Government's Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said the current system of benefits had to be reformed because it was "unfair".

He said: "It is unfair on taxpayers, it is unfair on those in over-crowded accommodation and it is unfair that one group of housing benefit tenants cannot have spare bedrooms and another group are subsidised."