Housing benefit change protests held 16 March 2013 Last updated at 18:32 Thousands have been demonstrating in a series of cities against government plans to cut housing benefit for those considered to have too much space. Protests against the plan - labelled the "bedroom tax" by Labour - have been held in 52 towns and cities, including Manchester and London. Organisers said between 12,000 and 13,000 people turned out. The government's welfare changes are due to come in in April and are expected to affect 660,000 people. Those deemed to have a spare room in their council or housing association home will have their housing benefit claims reduced by £40-£80. The protests' national organiser, Éoin Clarke, said: "This is a cruel policy that primarily hits single parents, and the adult disabled. Even children deemed disabled but not 'severely' so, are affected. Carers, the terminally-ill, battered wives and husbands are all affected. Soldiers living in single accommodation or indeed foster parents with more than one foster child are hit, despite the government's talk of a U-turn. There are times in history when people must stand together in defence of common decency - that time has come. Spare room subsidies The government estimates that roughly a third of social sector claimants will have their benefit cut. But foster carers and families of armed services personnel will be exempt from controversial changes to housing benefit, ministers have said. Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Ed Miliband have been involved in a fierce war of words over the issue for weeks, with the Mr Miliband branding the policy as a "bedroom tax." No 10 has defended the policy as a whole, saying it was important to address pressure on social housing waiting lists and growing overcrowding.