Campaigners warn of impact of benefit changes at Bethnal Green meeting

Campaigners warned of the “enormous damage” that could result from changes to the housing benefit system at a public meeting last week.

The government’s one per cent cap on increases to housing benefit was heavily criticised by speakers at the event, which followed the launch of the ‘Tower Hamlets Benefits Justice’ campaign.

Those who attended the meeting, held at Collingwood Hall in Collingwood Street, Bethnal Green, agreed to form a network to oppose the cap.

Addressing the meeting, Eileen Short said: “If we don’t get organised and fight back, these cuts are going to do enormous damage to our community.”

Thousands of households in Tower Hamlets and Newham are set to be affected by changes to the benefit system.

The reforms came into effect earlier this month, with the one per cent cap amounting to a real term cut when inflation is taken into account.

A further meeting of the organisation is set to be held at 3pm on Sunday at St Margaret’s House in Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green.