Around 40 campaigners, including Dundee councillor Lesley Brennan, took part in a mass sleep out against the bedroom tax in Dundee on Saturday night.
The event, part of the national Bin the Bedroom Tax campaign which saw more than 60 similar events in towns and cities across the UK, took place in the area outside the Auld Steeple Church in Nethergate.
During the evening and night, the campaigners had support from members of the public out for the evening, with one small bingo winner giving a donation, while food and hot drinks were provided by church minister the Rev David Clark and his wife Maureen.
Philip Stott, spokesperson for the Dundee branch of the campaign, described it as an “excellent” turnout which showed the strength of feeling against the tax.
He said: “There has been an excellent turnout of not only members of our campaign, but also people we had not met before who came along to offer solidarity and support.
“We organised this event to highlight the brutal impact this austerity tax is having on over 3,000 of the poorest households in Dundee, who have had housing benefit stolen from them for the crime of having ‘spare’ bedrooms.
“We are demanding the scrapping of this unjust Tory/LibDem tax and that the Scottish government and all social housing landlords agree to a no-eviction policy for those who inevitably fall into arrears through no fault of their own.
“Last year alone the Scottish Government underspend was £179 million, enough to wipe out the bedroom tax in Scotland for the next three years.
“Words of opposition to the bedroom tax from politicians are not enough, we need action.
“Spirits were high throughout the night with late night revellers coming up to offer support. One individual made a very generous donation, one of a number, to the campaign after a win on the bingo.
“The tea, coffee, doughnuts and muffins from the church minister and his wife were greatly appreciated. We set up a colourful board with speech bubbles where messages could be written.
“These included solidarity message from the Dundee City Unison trade union and messages from angry Dundee children worried about losing their bedrooms.
“Jimmy, a carer for a tenant affected by the bedroom tax said: “I’m here and I’m not even paying it. This tax will rip apart communities and ruin people’s lives.”
Abertay Housing Association tenant Albert Mitchell faces a bill of £80 a month. He said: “I said to the councillors how would you like me to turn up your at door demanding money for rooms in the house you have lived in for years?
“We are building an anti-eviction army. We are determined there will be no evictions in Dundee.”
Sheila Crawford, a Dundee City Council tenant, added: “This isn’t even just about the bedroom tax, we are spreading awareness about all the cuts and how they are affecting people.
“How can it be fair that a cabinet of millionaires treat the poorest like this.”
Lesley Brennan, Dundee City councillor for the East End, said: “I participated in the mass sleep out as every week I speak to people who are living in fear for themselves and families because they cannot afford to pay this unjust ‘tax’.
“This housing benefit rule change is cruel and research is now showing that it is increasing the housing benefit bill as some households move into the more expensive private rented sector.
“Therefore, I wanted to demonstrate my opposition to the bedroom tax and my solidarity to the 3,300 households affected.”