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Cameron didn't bite in PMQs, but Tories must revise tax credit cuts David Cameron refuses to answer Jeremy Corbyn six times on tax credits
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron refused six times under questioning from the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to say whether people would be left worse off by cuts to tax credits after the Treasury revises its proposals.David Cameron refused six times under questioning from the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to say whether people would be left worse off by cuts to tax credits after the Treasury revises its proposals.
The prime minister failed to confirm whether 3 million people would still lose money, after the government was forced to delay its proposals by an alliance of Labour, Liberal Democrats, crossbenchers and bishops in the House of Lords. The prime minister failed to confirm whether 3 million people would still lose money after the government was forced to delay its proposals by an alliance of Labour, Liberal Democrats, crossbenchers and bishops in the House of Lords.
Corbyn said he was putting questions to the prime minister “on behalf of the people of this country”, adding that it was unacceptable that Cameron would not reassure those who are frightened about losing an average of £1,300 a year.Corbyn said he was putting questions to the prime minister “on behalf of the people of this country”, adding that it was unacceptable that Cameron would not reassure those who are frightened about losing an average of £1,300 a year.
Speaking at his fourth prime minister’s questions, the Labour leader said: “People are very worried about what is going to happen to them next April, so what exactly do you mean? You’re considering it? ... We thought you were committed to not cutting tax credits? Are you going to cut tax credits or not? Are people going to be worse off or not in April next year? You must know the answer.” Speaking at his fourth prime minister’s questions, the Labour leader said: “People are very worried about what is going to happen to them next April, so what exactly do you mean? You’re considering it? … We thought you were committed to not cutting tax credits. Are you going to cut tax credits or not? Are people going to be worse off or not in April next year? You must know the answer.”
But Cameron would not elaborate about how the government would proceed and attempted to deflect the argument on to the size of the welfare bill, Britain’s debt and the legitimacy of the proposals that were delayed by the Lords.But Cameron would not elaborate about how the government would proceed and attempted to deflect the argument on to the size of the welfare bill, Britain’s debt and the legitimacy of the proposals that were delayed by the Lords.
“What I can guarantee is we remain committed to the vision of a high-pay, low-tax, lower welfare economy. We believe the way to ensure everyone is better off is keep growing our economy, keep inflation low, keep cutting people’s taxes and introduce the national living wage,” he said. Related: 'Frankly I’m terrified': meet those set to be hit by tax credit cuts
“What I can guarantee is we remain committed to the vision of a high-pay, low-tax, lower-welfare economy. We believe the way to ensure everyone is better off is keep growing our economy, keep inflation low, keep cutting people’s taxes and introduce the national living wage,” he said.
Cameron and George Osborne have accepted they need to listen to the Lords, but will not set out how they will do so until the autumn statement on 25 November.Cameron and George Osborne have accepted they need to listen to the Lords, but will not set out how they will do so until the autumn statement on 25 November.
They have also turned their ire on to the House of Lords by ordering a review of its operation to stop it blocking financial measures approved by MPs. They have also turned their ire on to the House of Lords by ordering a review of its operation to stop it blocking financial measures approved by MPs. At PMQs, Cameron complained that the tax credit plans were defeated by opposition peers and Labour in a “new alliance of the unelected and unelectable”.
At PMQs, Cameron complained that the tax credit plans were defeated by opposition peers and Labour in a “new alliance of the unelected and unelectable”. But Corbyn dismissed Cameron’s argument by saying: “This is not a constitutional crisis. This is a crisis for 3 million people.”
But Corbyn dismissed Cameron’s outrage about the House of Lords overriding the will of the Commons by saying: “This is not a constitutional crisis. This is a crisis for 3 million people.” A senior Labour aide said the party regarded Cameron’s Lords review “as a smokescreen to cover up the real problem of tax credits”.
A senior Labour aide said the party regarded Cameron’s House of Lords review “as a smokescreen to cover up the real problem of tax credits”. Speaking to a meeting of backbench Conservative MPs on the 1922 committee on Wednesday night, the chancellor said it was time for reflection and appealed to them for ideas on how the proposals could be revised.
Speaking to a meeting of backbench Conservative MPs on the 1922 committee on Wednesday night, Osborne said it was time for reflection and appealed to them for ideas on how the proposals could be revised. Related: Senior Tory peers propose actions to curb Lords' powers
But he also stressed that the party had lost in the Lords despite it being the biggest turnout of Tory peers for years and having the support of several Labour rebels, including former defence secretary George Robertson, and former lord chancellor Derry Irvine. But Osborne also stressed that the party had lost in the Lords despite the biggest turnout of Tory peers for years and despite the support of several Labour rebels, including the former defence secretary George Robertson and former lord chancellor Derry Irvine.
According to those present, the mood of the Tory MPs was now more frustrated with the House of Lords than upset about his handling of the tax credits debate, which some have publicly criticised over the last few weeks. According to those present, the mood of Tory MPs was now more frustrated with the House of Lords than upset about his handling of the tax credits debate, which some have publicly criticised over the last few weeks.
“He was well-received. Any talk that this is going to diminish the standing of the chancellor in the parliamentary party is for the birds,” said one Tory MP who attended and is not known for loyalty to the leadership. Another Conservative MP said he believed it was “morally indefensible not to go ahead with tax credit reform” and the mood of the party was that Osborne was just have to “re-present it” and explain it better, while “tweaking” the impact of the cuts. “He was well-received. Any talk that this is going to diminish the standing of the chancellor in the parliamentary party is for the birds,” said one Tory MP who attended and is not known for loyalty to the leadership. Another Conservative MP said he believed it was “morally indefensible not to go ahead with tax credit reform” and the mood of the party was that Osborne would just have to “re-present” and explain the cuts better, while “tweaking” their impact.
Before the Lords debate, senior Tory sources had threatened to flood the second chamber with Conservative peers to stop opposition parties repeatedly blocking government legislation. Before the Lords debate, senior Tory sources had threatened to flood the second chamber with Conservative peers to stop opposition parties repeatedly blocking legislation. However, Thomas Galbraith, the former cabinet minister in charge of reviewing the Lords, clarified that this would be wrong.
However, Thomas Galbraith, the former cabinet minister in charge of reviewing the Lords, clarified that this would be wrong. Related: Osborne may have been defeated by tax credits – but he is in a fighting mood
It is understood the Conservatives are still keen to address their “numbers problem”, but for now are focussed on getting back to the status quo that the Lords do not challenge MPs about financial measures. It is understood the Conservatives are still keen to address their “numbers problem”, but for now are focused on reclaiming the status quo that the Lords do not challenge MPs about financial measures.
Corbyn focussed his entire set of questions at PMQs on the impact of tax credit cuts, refusing to get distracted by the debate about the House of Lords. Corbyn focused his entire set of questions at PMQs on the impact of tax credit cuts, refusing to get distracted by the debate about the Lords.
Only one of his questions was from a member of the public, who was concerned about tax credit cuts, but his aides insisted he was just adopting a “mix and match” approach rather than abandoning his his “people’s question time” format. Only one of his questions was from a member of the public who was concerned about tax credit cuts, but his aides insisted he was just adopting a “mix and match” approach rather than abandoning his “people’s question time” format.
It also emerged the Speaker is encouraging him to shorten his questions, as the session overran following a long exchange between Corbyn and Cameron. It also emerged that the Speaker is encouraging him to shorten his questions, as the session overran after a long exchange between Corbyn and Cameron.