Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to Jeremy Hunt’s comments on how the tax credit cuts are partly about teaching the British that they need to work as hard as the Chinese, said:

“The Government’s tax credit changes do send a signal and we get the message loud and clear – if you are in work and on low to medium pay the Tories are not on your side.

“It is a kick in the teeth for working families to hear Jeremy Hunt patronisingly say that the reason they are struggling to pay the bills is because they are not working hard enough.  When the truth is his government is ruining family finances right across Britain.  

“Labour has warned time and again that these tax credit cuts will hurt millions of ordinary working people, yet the Tories are digging their heels in.  It’s not too late to change course and Labour will be fighting these cuts to tax credits the whole way.”