800% more people turn to charity as cuts wreck welfare system

Cyrenians Cymru, which works with homeless and disadvantaged people in the city, says an unprecedented number of people are turning to it for basic support because the state's welfare safety net is no longer functioning.

When the Con-Dems took office in 2010 just 2 per cent of its service users received no benefits, but that rose to a shocking 17 per cent in 2012.

Cyrenians community centre manager Chris Skelton said: "The demand for services such as the free laundry and shower facilities at the centre are very high.

"We are also seeing many new faces coming into the centre asking for housing and benefit advice."

And he warned the charity's staff are bracing themselves for the situation to get worse as cruel new cuts come into effect in April.

Swansea West MP Geraint Davies accused coalition MPs of making the poorest pay first for the bankers' crisis. He said: "As cuts in housing and council tax benefits bite in April more people will be cast into poverty.

"The Conservatives are creating a weak and divided Britain and the hardship they inflict brings shame to our nation."

Warning that the inequality could create social tensions, he added: "In the US the top 2 per cent are being taxed to stimulate growth, yet in Britain the poorest are hit hardest to pay for bankers' greed and millionaires get tax cuts.

"This is the cruel reality of Tory Britain today."

UK Uncut campaign group spokesman Murray Worthy said the charity's data revealed the "tip of the iceberg in terms of the devastating social impact" that government cuts are having.

"No-one should have to rely on charity - the government has a responsibility to provide for people who can't get work at a time when there are not enough jobs," he said.

"The government should cut down on tax avoidance which could raise billions and fund vital services which are being cut."