West slams tax credit plan

Catherine West

Local MP Catherine West attacked the chancellor over the impact of his tax credit plans last week.

The Hornsey & Wood Green MP said there 11,200 children in families in her constituency who receive tax credits. And that they would be deeply affected by the measures.

Speaking in a parliamentary debate before the budget speech, she said: “David Cameron and George Osborne still haven’t come clean about exactly what cuts to tax credits they are proposing.  But with a hit list of £12 billion, it’s clear that low paid working families in Hornsey & Wood Green are in the firing line.

“There’s been a rise in low paid, insecure work over the last few years, so it’s no surprise that many families are struggling to stay above the breadline.  Tax credits can make the difference between being able to pay the bills and put food on the table.

“The Tories are failing to tackle poverty and even before these changes they’re missing targets to reduce child poverty.  They need to think again before cutting this vital lifeline”

Across London, 67 per cent of families claiming tax credits are in work. Cuts will hit working families on the lowest incomes hardest, potentially taking more children below the poverty line, Ms West said.