The House of Lords is set to vote on several measures relating to the tax credits reforms today and Westminster is on tenterhooks to see if they have the nerve to kill off the cuts. Matthew Hancock, the Cabinet Office minister and close college of George Osborne, said on the Today programme the government is listening to the concern in the Lords — echoing the words of Nicky Morgan yesterday:
‘George is very much in listening mode and the peers this afternoon have the opportunity through a motion put down the Bishop of Portsmouth to express regret at this measures without braking this constitutional convention, long standing.’
Hancock reiterated his admiration for the Lords’ work to ‘improve’ and ‘suggest’ bills but denied these cuts will make people worse off — pointing to the ‘whole package’ of reforms including the National Living Wage, the rise in the income tax threshold and the extra childcare:
‘By next year, 8 out of 10 people will be better off as a result.
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