Tory MP attacks George Osborne’s tax credit plans in maiden speech

Last Updated: October 20, 2015By

What a pleasant surprise!

A Conservative MP has used her maiden speech in the House of Commons to lambast George Osborne for planning to penalise low-paid workers with cuts to tax credits.

In a pointed address, Heidi Allen said the cuts fail David Cameron’s “family test” and are driven by the chancellor’s mistaken decision to run an overall budget surplus.

Allen, who replaced Andrew Lansley as Tory MP for Cambridgeshire South in May, was heard in silence as she tore into the government over its tax credit plans.

She said she decided to enter parliament after she feared that Britain was on the verge of a break up during the 2011 London riots, and accused the government of naivete in claiming low-paid workers could easily earn more by working extra hours.

The MP also challenged ministers’ claims that workers will not lose out if all tax and benefit changes are considered over the lifetime of this parliament. “People on the breadline cannot wait for the parliament to pass along. For many, every day living is hand-to-mouth living.

“Madam deputy speaker, I suspect you and I could weather such a transition period. We could pull our belts in. But many of the families affected by these proposed changes do not have this luxury. Choosing whether to eat or heat is not a luxury … Conservatives pride themselves on living within their means, of cutting their cloth. But what if there is no cloth left to cut?”

Source: Tory MP attacks George Osborne’s tax credit plans in maiden speech | Money | The Guardian

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22 Comments

  1. Lorfarius October 20, 2015 at 7:13 pm - Reply

    Yes but she voted for tax credits the other week?

    • Mike Sivier October 20, 2015 at 8:43 pm - Reply

      I just checked this and you’re right – she did.
      Maybe she was misled like the rest of us?
      Maybe it’s Tory self-preservation coming out again and she doesn’t want to lose her seat?

      • Lorfarius October 20, 2015 at 8:50 pm - Reply

        Only 5 more years… I guess..

      • Damien Willey October 20, 2015 at 9:19 pm - Reply

        She’s actually in a very safe tory seat, so I’m more inclined to think she’s one of those rare breeds of tories who actually might give a damn

  2. Nick October 20, 2015 at 7:18 pm - Reply

    nice speech from a tory and will tell her that when we speak next

  3. philipburdekin October 20, 2015 at 7:18 pm - Reply

    Maybe she should be pm lol, a damn site better than the fool who is in office atm.

  4. Robert Fillies October 20, 2015 at 7:37 pm - Reply

    This lady obviously has principles and has some empathy for the people who will be affected by the chancellors choices. And she went on to argue that they are choices, not necessary at all. Good for her.

  5. Joanna October 20, 2015 at 7:37 pm - Reply

    Now this is a refreshing change, no doubt cameron will sack her as soon as he possibly can!!!

    • hugosmum70 October 20, 2015 at 9:53 pm - Reply

      can he do that? surely if she was voted in by the people its not up to him to sack her. all he could do is not give her a position in the cabinet? yes i know being in the cabinet puts them in a better position to fight their case but they can still do a lot from wherever they stand.waiting to be corrected on this though.

  6. Dez October 20, 2015 at 7:42 pm - Reply

    Poor Heidi someone with common sense and a moral compass will I regret not last long in that snake pit of “dim but not nice” Hooray Henries

  7. yvette clegg October 20, 2015 at 8:35 pm - Reply

    I agree Heidi, you did the right thing. Those of single parent and low income families have no further to go and need the help that’s why we get the tax credits. We still need to go to the food banks to feed our children as the money does not go far enough. If need be we as parents will do without ourselves to feed them, but the government don’t see this. They need to look at those that are middle and upper class, and yes the class system does still exist today.

    • Lorfarius October 20, 2015 at 9:29 pm - Reply

      But she just voted for it. Shes two faced.

  8. Michael Broadhurst October 20, 2015 at 8:57 pm - Reply

    sounds like another hypocritical Tory if she voted for them the other week.

  9. AndyH October 20, 2015 at 9:18 pm - Reply

    Hurray – a fox in the hen house! Hope she puts her money where her mouth is though.

  10. Florence October 20, 2015 at 10:02 pm - Reply

    Is she another case of “choosing the blue team” as she put in in her speech, like the QT Tory voter, and just realised they’ve been had? They will always be the nasty party, and having seen this maiden speech one might think she doesn’t realise that “Compassionate Conservationism” is an oxymoron?

  11. diet650 October 20, 2015 at 10:08 pm - Reply

    A refreshing few words, perhaps she should change her party

  12. AndyH October 20, 2015 at 11:21 pm - Reply

    It’s refreshing to see there are people within the conservative party who actually believe in drawing the line somewhere.

  13. Helen October 21, 2015 at 12:42 am - Reply

    I’m afraid I am very sceptical here, I feel there is a hidden agenda! Maybe it’s my untrusting personality when it comes to most people in authority. In my experience, which is quite extensive, usually people are given a false sense of severity. I wonder whether she would have said all that without it being vetted!

  14. Helen October 21, 2015 at 12:45 am - Reply

    …false sense of security…

  15. Mr.Angry October 21, 2015 at 4:32 am - Reply

    Well done Heidi, I am in a state of total shock, no doubt she will get the boot, Pork face won’t want anyone speaking out against his rulings.

  16. ghost whistler October 21, 2015 at 1:12 pm - Reply

    But she hasn’t done the right thing. She voted for these cuts!

    This is just another Tory psychopath. What on earth made you think this one would be different?

  17. mrmarcpc October 22, 2015 at 2:37 pm - Reply

    Oh dear, is there dissension within tory ranks, looks like there is, hopefully this will be a severe hit that they can’t recover from and be the beginning of the end of them in power!

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