Frank Field has launched an all-out attack on the Government’s so-called bedroom tax.

The Birkenhead MP is calling on tenants to block up their spare rooms in order to beat the tax - which he blasted as “wicked”.

During a Parliamentary debate, Mr Field said direct action was needed to combat new laws which will penalise benefit claimants living in social housing with at least one spare bedroom.

David Cameron's one-time anti-poverty advisor turned on the coalition today and urged housing associations, such as Wirral Partnership Homes, to follow the lead of landlords during the 17th century when politicians imposed a window tax - residents and landlords bricked up windows in response.

Mr Field encouraged tenants living in council-owned or social housing accommodation to ask for the doors of their spare bedroom to be blocked.

Housing associations should follow this example and where tenants request such action the doors to ‘spare’ bedrooms should be similarly blocked up.

Mr Field said: “Why do I advocate for the first time direct action?

"I do so because the tax is so grossly unfair and is levied on some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“Wicked actions require a different response from Parliamentarians.

"Where it is possible and safe to do so, the walls of spare bedrooms should be knocked through to make one larger room. Naturally this would only apply when no downsizing options are available”.

The bedroom tax, which will come in from April under welfare reforms, will cut the amount of benefit claimants receive if they are deemed to have more bedrooms than they need.

Under the policy, children under-16 of the same sex are required to share a bedroom while those of different sexes have to share until the age of ten.

Mr Field said that while his idea would not solve the issue, it could mitigate some of the worst results by freeing tenants from the tax.

He added: “It was always unlikely the Government would achieve the £500m cut in housing benefit the Treasury was demanding.

“But the Government’s cover is blown.

"If all tenants could move to smaller accommodation then the Government would make no savings at all in public expenditure.

“Indeed, as ‘suitable’ accommodation in the private sector will be more expensive, the housing bill will rise."

Around 4,500 people in Wirral are expected to be affected by reductions in housing benefit of up to 25% for tenants judged to be living in properties too large for them.

Across the country, two million people will be caught up in the bedroom tax.

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