DAVID Cameron has come under fire after saying he was “delighted” MPs voted for tax credit cuts on Tuesday night.
Answering a question from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during Prime Minister’s Question time, Cameron said tax credit cuts were “the right approach for our country”.
He said: “Let us make work pay, let us allow people to earn more, let us cut their taxes, and let us make welfare affordable. I am delighted that once again this measure passed the House of Commons with a big majority.”
An estimated 3.2 million families in the UK are expected to lose about £1,300 when the changes to tax credits come into being next April. Those affected are expected to find out by letter just before Christmas.
Corbyn pressed the Prime Minister on why he had changed his mind from his position during the election campaign when he explicitly promised not to cut tax credits.
Cameron replied: “What we said before the election is that we would reduce welfare by £12 billion as part of getting the deficit down, part of getting the economy growing, and part of creating two million jobs. That is what happened at the election, and we are keeping our promises by delivering that stronger economy.”
Cameron was pressed further on the issue by SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson who pointed out that a couple with two children living in a council house, both earning just above the minimum wage would lose more than £2,000.
This, Robertson said, would be the same as their basic rate of income tax rising 90 per cent. “Does the Prime Minister have the faintest idea of the human cost of his plans?” he asked.
Cameron replied that his changes would mean the couple would see a “huge benefit” because of cuts to social rent, changes to childcare, and an increase to the income tax allowance.
The Government may face a difficult time getting the changes to tax credits past the House of Lords on Monday. There are now, effectively, three “fatal” amendments to the bill, which would force it back to the Commons and back to the Government.
If that happens it will be highly unusual. There is a104-year-old convention that the Lords do not reject financial bills that are passed by the Commons.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here