John Healey has hit out at the Tories and UKIP after they voted to cut tax credits yesterday (20 October).
Labour had called a debate and put forward a motion calling on the government to reverse its planned cuts, which are due to come into effect in April 2016.
But most Tories – backed by UKIP’s MP Douglas Carswell – voted against the motion, defeating it 317 to 295.
Labour has promised to reverse the tax credit cuts if in government after the next election.
In Rotherham, 19,400 families rely on tax credits and more than half of them have parents in work. In Barnsley, 18,000 families receive tax credits and in two thirds of cases, parents have a job.
John Healey, MP for Wentworth & Dearne, said: “Most children in our area have parents who receive tax credits, and the large majority are in work.
“The Tories claim they are on the side of working families, but they are cutting the tax credits they rely on – more than 3 million working families will be on average £1,300 worse off next year as a result.
“At the same time the country’s richest households are getting an inheritance tax cut.
“I was disgusted to hear David Cameron say at Prime Minister’s Questions today (21 October) that he was “delighted” his tax credit cuts had passed.
“Tory and UKIP politicians need to explain to people who are set to lose so much why they back these punishing cuts to tax credits.
“Labour will stand up for working families, and reverse the cuts.”
Labour brought in tax credits to make work pay and help end child poverty. The Resolution Foundation predict 200,000 children – most from working households – will be pushed into poverty next year as a result of the government’s budget.
Labour has launched a ‘Stop the Tax Credit Cut’ petition, which you can sign here: http://www.labour.org.uk/page/s/tory-tax-credit-cut