'Bedroom Tax' Protests

Campaigners from across the country have been protesting in Birmingham over the Government's spare room subsidy, otherwise known as the bedroom tax.

It follows the death of a 53-year-old woman from Solihull, who neighbours believe killed herself because she was worried about how she would afford to pay for her spare rooms.

Thousands of protesters today called for the Government to axe the so-called "bedroom tax".

They are angry about changes to housing benefit which will see cuts for people with a spare room.

Protester organiser in Kidderminster Brian Ryder explains why he thinks the tax is unfair.

There are 11 protests across the Central region today against the Government's plans to cut benefits for social housing tenants if they have a spare bedroom in their house.

It's one of a number of changes being brought in by the coalition government to try and reduce the country's welfare and benefits bill.

Nationally there are two main protests in London and Glasgow, and also 50 smaller demonstrations including these in the Midlands.

• Wolverhampton - The Civic Centre at 1pm
• Newcastle-under-Lyme at 1pm
• Loughborough - Town Hall at 12pm
• Lincoln - Speakers' Corner at 1pm
• Kidderminster- Town Hall at 1pm

• Uttoxeter - Town Hall at 11am
• Derby - Council Offices at 1pm
• Coventry - Council House at 1pm
• Corby - Corby Cube at 12.30pm
• Burton - High street at 1pm
• Birmingham at 1pm

The national day of action has largely been organised by Labour Left, the political party's largest research group, in conjunction with trade unions and other left wing political parties including the Green Party.

A series of protests are taking place across the region today against plans to cut benefits for social housing tenants who are considered to be living in a house which is too big for their needs.

Under the Government plans, social housing tenants deemed to have a spare bedroom stand to have their housing benefit cut from next month.

Critics have called the plan a 'Bedroom Tax', and say it's unfairly targeting the poorest people in society.

There are 11 protests across the Central region today, mainly outside town halls and council buildings, including in Birmingham, Kidderminster, Loughborough and Corby.