Hundreds expected at anti-cuts protests

Direct action group UK Uncut said it will hold events in central London, Birmingham, Manchester and Chelmsford to bring the impact of the cuts home to “millionaire misery makers”.

The effect of the so-called bedroom tax will be highlighted, with protesters expected to take beds with them during the demonstrations.

The cap on benefits, being rolled out from this month, will also be attacked.

Rachel Johnson, a UK Uncut activist, said: “This Government is turning Margaret Thatcher’s wildest dreams into a nightmarish reality for ordinary people.

“The bedroom tax and benefits cap will make hundreds of thousands of people even poorer and homeless as they will be evicted from their homes, away from family and their jobs.

“Disabled people, women, single mothers and ethnic minorities will be hit the hardest by these devastating cuts. It is an outrage that the most marginalised in our society are being targeted while the Government is slashing taxes for the richest.”

Another activist, Jackie Smith, said: “The bedroom tax is the poll tax of our times. This Government is continuing Thatcher’s radical economic plan of privatisation, slashing of benefits, union smashing and deregulation that ensure that big business, wealthy people and banking system benefit and get richer, while we pay the price.

“We need to continue to resist these devastating ideological policies that are tearing apart communities and wrecking people’s lives.”

The exact locations of the protests will not be revealed until today.