Barbara has spoken out against Conservative Government plans to cut tax credits for working people and working carers. Speaking in a Commons debate opposing the cuts, Barbara raised the concerns of constituents who fear the changes will leave them and many other working people on low and middle incomes struggling to find money to pay bills and to buy essential items.

In the debate, Barbara also raised issues about the impact the Conservative tax credit cuts will have on working carers.

Barbara said:

“8,000 families and many working carers in Worsley and Eccles South rely on tax credits to pay for daily essentials. These cuts will really hurt those families and those carers. The Conservative Government is turning its back on support for people who will struggle without it.

Without tax credits, many local people affected by the cuts have told me that they will not be able to pay for food and other essentials for their families.

In Worsley and Eccles South almost 10,000 children are in families which could be affected by the cuts to tax credits. Many families who are getting tax credits will be more than £100 a month worse off in 2016, and some constituents could lose much more. This is unfair and completely unacceptable way to make changes.

I am also very concerned about the impact the tax credit cuts will have on the incomes of many unpaid carers who juggle care and work. Family carers who work 16 hours a week on the national minimum wage will be affected by the cuts. Carers UK say that all carers who are receiving the Carers Allowance and Working Tax Credits will lose out because of the change.

These cuts are a ‘work penalty’. They will hit families with disabled children, they will hit carers, they will hit many working people and I have called on the Government to rethink this damaging policy.”