Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on reports of the Government’s new ‘families test’ said:

“This new test will do nothing to help the millions of families who have lost out over the last four-and-a-half years as a result of this government’s policies.

“David Cameron promised his government would be the most family-friendly ‘ever’ but the independent IFS has said families will be £974 a year worse off because of tax and benefit changes since 2010. Families have been hit with soaring childcare costs and huge cuts which have led to 628 fewer Sure Start Centres than in April 2010. Child poverty is set to rise, not fall under David Cameron as millions of families struggle to cope with the cost-of-living crisis.

“A Labour government will freeze energy bills for families, make work pay by expanding free childcare for three and four-year-olds to 25 hours for working parents, raise the minimum wage and introduce a lower 10p starting rate of tax which will cut taxes for 24 million working people on middle and lower incomes.”