Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Government benefits system penalises low earners

Yesterday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) called for the UK’s tax credit system to be completely overhauled. Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Danny Alexander commented:

“Gordon Brown’s pledge to support working families is looking more superficial by the minute.

“The Prime Minister must come clean about the real impact of his Tax Credits system; it gives with one hand and takes with the other. Ending the 10p tax rate means the Government is taking even more from low-income families.

“It is grossly unfair that families who want to work harder have so little to show for it thanks to a system of complex, means-tested benefits.

“The benefits system needs to be radically simplified to ensure work really does pay, instead of trapping families on low incomes.”

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The word out on the streets; from those families and individuals on low income is that they are getting more and more pissed off (excuse my French) over the situation of Mortgages, Petrol prices, Gas & Electricity prices, which all add to the less well off in our society facing higher bills biting hard into their disposable income.

People aren't stupid, but I think Labour has made the mistake that they take the public for granted, and expect the public to be loyal to them, "trust me Tony" couldn't be trusted, and the worm is begining to turn.