In the question and answer section of Cameron’s ‘tax lock’ speech this morning, he didn’t even try to argue against the claim that the Tories would cut tax credits.
The PM was asked by Sky’s political correspondent, Anushka Asthana why the Tories are planning on cutting tax credits.
David Cameron didn’t say that the Tories wouldn’t do this. He simply responded by saying:
“As for welfare, let’s go on getting people off welfare and into work. We have made huge savings by the fact that there are 900,000 fewer people on out-of-work welfare. Yes, that saves money, but what I care even more is it changes lives, it gives people the chance of a job, of a livelihood. That is what welfare should be about.”
But as Patrick Wintour, the political editor at the Guardian, has pointed out:
When Cameron refuses to deny he will cut tax credits, saying best people off welfare and into work, remember 75 % on tax credits are in work
— Patrick Wintour (@patrickwintour) April 29, 2015
This comes after the Tories have refused to explain where exactly their £12bn cut to the welfare budget would come from, and after they sent round a press release last night, in which they also wouldn’t refuse to rule out cutting tax credit and child benefit.
It also suggests that Labour are correct in their assessment this morning of the Tories’ ‘secret plan’.
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