Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary, responding to Iain Duncan Smith’s speech at the Tory party conference, said:

“Iain Duncan Smith used his conference speech to open up a new front in the Tory war on workers.  After Jeremy Hunt claimed cutting people’s tax credits would make them work harder, IDS warmed to the theme by saying tax credits were a ‘bribe’. When the truth is they help millions of low and medium paid working people make ends meet. 

“His speech went on about patriotism and fairness, but his government are insulting working people, by suggesting that their hard earned tax credits are not deserved. IDS should get on with his own job of sorting out the failing Universal Credit system, rather than doing our workers down. He might be standing by while his Government takes over £1,000 per year out of the pockets of around three million families, but I’ll be fighting these cuts to support for working people tooth and nail.”