Tory to cut child benefits, say Labour

Tax increases and benefits are high on the agenda of the main contestants of the general election, and every day is another opportunity to do battle on the issue. With the Tories’ main campaign pledge a massive cut in public spending, the Labour focus on outlining what they say will be the sacrifices for this free-up in expenditure.

While visiting a Dumfries Community Centre yesterday, Labour Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy warned about the perils of The Conservatives’ financial plan on family households in particular. He said one of the components of the package includes a cut on child benefits, as well as the child trust fund, giving as an example a couple on a combined income of £31,000, which he estimated could stand to have their child credits cut completely, should a Tory cabinet be in place after May 6th.

Labour candidate in the constituency Russell Brown accompanied the Scottish Secretary in his visit, with Mr Murphy concluding that Tory leadership would not favour the “hard-working families”.