Tories Planned To Slash Child Benefit

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32526461

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said that they did, but the Tories are saying they didn't !

Leaving aside the issue of whether the policy would have been correct or not, they can't both be right. Which one is being economical with truth here ?

[TWR]

I totally agree VHG, they want to start with that Dreg in South Wales last week that had 40 kids with different women, two bricks come to mind.

[ummmm]

MrsO...it only replaced tax breaks giving the money to the main carer instead of the main breadwinner.

[mrs_overall]

jim, with respect to your tender years, it would be nice if ANY political party told the truth, especially just prior to an election

[mrs_overall]

Child benefit is not an 'entitlement' to people who choose to have large families

[ummmm]

I don't really have much feelings on it either way. Maybe limit it to two children.

[jim360]

It's difficult in principle for the Labour party to tell the truth at the moment, beyond being honest about their intentions, because they don't know what the truth is at the moment. It was the same with the Tory party in 2010. I think it's unreasonable to expect Opposition parties to explain completely what they will do if elected because some key information is unavailable to them. The best they can do is explain what they hope to do.

As to the tender years thing -- obviously I've been paying proper attention to politics for only the last ten years or so. Even in that time you can learn a lot about politics.

[mrs_overall]

jim, no doubt you have been paying attention...it's just that your comment about the Government telling the truth rather than political parties, came across as a touch naive IMHO

[jennyjoan]

Mrs O you are quite correct in what you say - what about eg my sister's neighbours - a family of 9 - 7 adult children and the two parents. Not one of them worked one hour - every single one of them parents (separated) and all have all houses the last word - plasmas, new furniture, fireplaces etc etc and best of all get their houses paid for by Housing Benefit and of course they live on benefits - also these people think they are ENTITLED to the lot.

This makes me seethe, one of the adult children is now living in the south of Ireland - so he claims down south and comes up and gets his benefits from the north.

One of the adult children had to go to the big doctor to find out if he was getting put off his benefits. He had inserted a water balloon in his pants and he pierced unbeknown to the doctor who then looked and awarded his benefits when he had "wet himself". And he gave him £2 for his fare home. That is true as this fella told my sister this is what he done.

Then I look at other people working hard and they get it so hard - getting up early having to pay child minders etc etc.

System is SO wrong no matter who wins the election - there seems to be no control over the benefits system at all.

[jim360]

Alternatively, it was one of those slip-ups that's the product of an early morning. For whatever reason, sometimes I don't type what I am thinking, or I type something I'm planning to say right now, rather than where it belongs in a couple of sentences.

[mrs_overall]

No problem jim. You'll probably be more alert once you have had your morning milk and rusks ;-)

[jackthehat]

I think they are probably both are telling the truth.
IDS, charged with making savings in the Benefits system, came up with a raft of suggestions. Some would have been dismissed at a very early stage and others would have been considered more fully before being done away with.

It's impressive to know that so many ABers didn't claim any Child Benefit for their children. Unfortunately, I can't claim to be one of them....

[Gromit]

The Conservatives want to make £12bn in cuts to welfare, but want to cut income tax for the well off.

I know which box my x will not be next to next week.

[Gromit]

It atrikes me as dishonest to not say this side of the election, where the £12bin is going to be cut. If they have worked out where there is £12bn to be saved, they should tell us now. To not say looks like they are concealing bad news or, even worse, it sounds like a made up figure that will never be achieved.

[naomi24]

Jack, //It's impressive to know that so many ABers didn't claim any Child Benefit for their children.//

No one said that. I’m sure most did receive child benefit or are receiving it, but the simple fact is that there are now all sorts of benefits available to people and the welfare bill that governments are faced with is simply unsustainable. People will soon complain if their taxes rise to pay for it all - that's of course the ones who actually pay tax. Why is it the right are content to take responsibility for themselves whereas the left always want something for nothing and take everything they can get because they think they're ‘entitled’?

[Baldric]

I noticed that at 0653 the word 'if' was used.
Bit of doubt creeping in, is there?

///Might this be the area that the Tories will make savings from, if they win next week ? ///

[jackthehat]

Apologies, naomi, i thought this thread about Child Benefit was about.....Child Benefit.

[naomi24]

Jack, No apology necessary, Merely pointing out that with so many benefits available and with so many people thinking they're ‘entitled’, something has to give – so to speak.

[ummmm]

It's not really a benefit though. It's a replacement.

[Peter Pedant]

Tories definitely

Danny A has pressed the nuclear button because he has been told the local polls show he's gonna down...

[naomi24]

ummmmm, whatever it's called, it's a benefit.