As yet more welfare cuts were announced in the ConDem Govbernment's Comprehensive Spending Review yesterday, anti-Bedroom Tax campaigners converged on the Manchester Central (GMex) venue for national social housing conference, Housing 2013, as its creator, Lord Freud, arrived to speak to delegates.
Groups came from as far afield as Liverpool, as well as from Salford and Greater Manchester, to vent their anger on the Lord – who has an eight-bedroom country mansion, and a £1.9m property in London. While he sneaked in a side door to avoid the protest, the unmistakeable chant could be by delegates attending the conference… `Axe, Axe, the Bedroom Tax!!!'
"I'm here to spread the message about the Bedroom Tax" said Maria Brabiner, of Salford Against The Bedroom Tax and now a veteran campaigner and speaker against the Tax "Lord Freud, one of the main architects behind the Bedroom Tax, is inside that national housing conference. The police are there guarding the steps because they want to keep us away
"We were also here on Tuesday to Lobby The Landlords and all the delegates were out here watching and listening, and they told us that the Bedroom Tax was being mentioned inside" she added "The campaign continues. The Bedroom Tax will be abolished, it's like the Poll Tax all over again…"
* Our main photo shows Maria stood on some brilliant 3-D art by Red Art – she assures us she ain't going to jump - just fight back!
* See Part 1: Anti Blacklisting Campaigners lobby Housing 2013 - click here
* See also related Salford Star articles on the day's protests...
Teachers Strike - click here
Civil Servants Rally - click here