Protesters launch a mass campaign across London’s deprived East End today over the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ with the government’s Benefit changes being brought in.

The first of a series of public meetings is being held tonight in Bethnal Green at St Margaret’s House community centre.

It follows distribution of leaflets on Saturday to tenants on all Tower Hamlets housing estates.

“The fight against the Bedroom Tax is showing that we can stand up to these unjust attacks and resist evictions,” said Tower Hamlets Benefit Justice campaign co-ordinator Eileen Short.

“That’s the message to anyone hit by benefit cuts—together we can beat this.

“The Bedroom Tax and benefit cuts are already biting deep.

“Hundreds of families are threatened with losing their homes.”

The government has brought in new rules which cap Housing benefit for every bedroom left unoccupied on housing estates.

Campaigners say this will hit those on low income and especially the disabled who need extra bedrooms for carers or relatives looking after them.

They are calling on Tower Hamlets council and other social landlords in the East End to make a pledge not to evict families falling behind with rents because of benefit capping.

Costs of evictions would outweigh arrears, campaigners point out, and result in evicted families having to be rehoused by law.