Labour ‘would keep child benefit cuts’ made by coalition – Media roundup: June 5th, 2013

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Labour ‘would keep child benefit cuts’ made by coalition

A future Labour government would not reverse cuts to child benefit made by the coalition, the BBC has learned. Labour has criticised the cuts, but its leadership believes it could not afford the £2.3bn needed to reverse them. On Thursday, party leader Ed Miliband is due to say he supports capping the amount the next government will spend on welfare benefits. Earlier this week the party announced it would cut winter fuel payments for wealthier pensioners. When the government decided to cut child benefits from higher taxpayers, Labour attacked the move as unfair and said it proved the government was out of touch with hard-working families. BBC political editor Nick Robinson says he understands Labour’s leadership has concluded it would not be able to reverse the cuts as the money needed would be 23 times the amount that would be saved by removing the winter fuel allowance from better off pensioners – the policy unveiled by Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls. – BBC

“Half of the Shadow Cabinet” want EU referendum 

Other highlights

• Can Ed Miliband and Ed Balls discover a touch of Clement Attlee’s steel? – Mary Riddell, Telegraph
• Balls is as mesmerised by the bankers as Osborne – Simon Jenkins, Guardian
• Britain faces “colossal” child poverty bill – Guardian
• Miliband to attend Fabian BYOB party? – Telegraph
• Twigg pledges expansion of IT and engineering training – Guardian