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Labour leadership trio to oppose Harriet Harman on tax credits Harriet Harman 'happy to be overruled' on tax credit cuts
(about 1 hour later)
Three of Labour's leadership candidates have said they will oppose Harriet Harman's decision to back government plans to cut child tax credits. Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman is "perfectly happy" for her backing of tax credit cuts to be reversed, the BBC understands.
Acting Labour leader Ms Harman said the party would not oppose Tory plans announced in the Budget to limit child tax credits to the first two children. A source close to Ms Harman told BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith she had been setting out "an attitude" not a final policy.
But leadership contenders Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Jeremy Corbyn have suggested they will oppose the move. Ms Harman faced a Labour backlash after saying the party would not oppose Budget plans to limit child tax credits to the first two children.
She will address Labour MPs later.
"Harriet was simply setting out an attitude that we are not going to oppose everything," the Labour source said.
It comes after three of Labour's leadership contenders, Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Jeremy Corbyn, suggested they would oppose the move.
The fourth candidate, Liz Kendall, has not yet commented on the issue.The fourth candidate, Liz Kendall, has not yet commented on the issue.
It comes as Ms Harman will address Labour MPs later in an effort to win them over.
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said her comments had opened up a "serious rift in Labour ranks and infuriated many in the party" - including three of the four leadership candidates.
Our correspondent said: "Ms Harman is accused of making the announcement without first having secured the backing of the shadow cabinet or discussing the move more widely within the Labour party."
"One senior Labour source said Ms Harman was 'an interim leader who needed to start behaving like an interim leader'," he added.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Ms Harman said Labour's big defeats in the last two elections meant it could not adopt "blanket opposition".Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Ms Harman said Labour's big defeats in the last two elections meant it could not adopt "blanket opposition".
She said the party must listen to the views of those who had put off having "bigger families" for financial reasons, as well as those getting state support.She said the party must listen to the views of those who had put off having "bigger families" for financial reasons, as well as those getting state support.
The acting leader said Labour would not oppose the government's plan to reduce the overall household benefit cap - to £23,000 a year in London and £20,000 outside - and it would also back the third child limit on future tax credits claims.The acting leader said Labour would not oppose the government's plan to reduce the overall household benefit cap - to £23,000 a year in London and £20,000 outside - and it would also back the third child limit on future tax credits claims.
She said Labour would oppose the reduction in the tax credit threshold to £3,850 a year and the faster withdrawal of it, saying it would leave families an average of £1,000 a year worse off.She said Labour would oppose the reduction in the tax credit threshold to £3,850 a year and the faster withdrawal of it, saying it would leave families an average of £1,000 a year worse off.
But she said the temptation to oppose everything in the Budget was not a luxury open to Labour since, at this moment, it was seen as being a party of opposition - not a government in waiting.But she said the temptation to oppose everything in the Budget was not a luxury open to Labour since, at this moment, it was seen as being a party of opposition - not a government in waiting.
Labour MP Diane Abbott said Ms Harman was "doing her very best" as interim leader.
But she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't believe the Labour Party can support welfare measures that will force tens of thousands of children into poverty."
No 'blanket opposition'No 'blanket opposition'
A spokesman for Mr Burnham said he had consistently spoken out against taking away support for working families with children on modest incomes.A spokesman for Mr Burnham said he had consistently spoken out against taking away support for working families with children on modest incomes.
"Andy will not offer blanket opposition and, where we agree with a government policy, we won't oppose for the sake of it," a spokesman said."Andy will not offer blanket opposition and, where we agree with a government policy, we won't oppose for the sake of it," a spokesman said.
"But these tax credit changes are regressive, they are wrong, they hit families in work and Andy opposes them.""But these tax credit changes are regressive, they are wrong, they hit families in work and Andy opposes them."
Ms Cooper said Labour should strongly oppose the cuts, saying she did not believe the best way to reduce the deficit was "to hit working families, reduce work incentives and push more children into poverty".Ms Cooper said Labour should strongly oppose the cuts, saying she did not believe the best way to reduce the deficit was "to hit working families, reduce work incentives and push more children into poverty".
And Mr Corbyn, who is basing his leadership campaign on an anti-austerity message, said he was "not willing to vote for policies that will push more children into poverty".And Mr Corbyn, who is basing his leadership campaign on an anti-austerity message, said he was "not willing to vote for policies that will push more children into poverty".