In the lead up to the Government’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill to be voted on in Parliament on Tuesday 27th October, Sharon Hodgson, Member of Parliament for Washington and Sunderland West, has hit out at the Government’s cuts to tax credits.

According to figures released by the Children’s Society, 3,700 families in Washington and Sunderland West are set to lose an average of £1,300 a year, and 6,400 children will be impacted by the proposed changes.

Sharon has said:

“These awful cuts to the hard working people of our country exposes the lies that David Cameron has told. There was no mention of cutting tax credits in his Party’s manifesto, and he even stated publicly before the election, on Question Time, that he would not cut tax credits. He is now breaking that promise, and in doing so he is cutting off a lifeline that so many hard-working families rely on."

"These cuts show just how out of touch this Government really is from the hard working families of the UK, and it is a scandal that whilst our economy is growing so are the rates of in-work poverty and the lines at our food banks."

"Our community will be hit hard by David Cameron and George Osborne’s plans, and it is time for them to rethink these cuts and to stand up for working people all over the country.”

Sharon will be voting against the Government’s cuts on Tuesday.

Notes:

For further information on the effects the Two Child Limit in Tax Credits and Universal Credit, and the removal of the income measures from the Child Poverty Act are going to have, please consult the documents below.

Restriction of the child element of Tax Credits to 2 children:
http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Childrens%20Society%203rd%20Reading%20Briefing%20-%20Two%20Child%20Limit.pdf

Child Poverty: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Childrens%20Society%203rd%20Reading%20Briefing%20-%20Child%20Poverty.pdf