This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jun/05/labour-not-reverse-child-benefit-cuts

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Labour government would not reverse child benefit cuts for top rate taxpayers Labour government would not reverse child benefit cuts for top rate taxpayers
(4 months later)
A future Labour government would not reverse the coalition decision to withdraw child benefit from higher rate taxpayers.A future Labour government would not reverse the coalition decision to withdraw child benefit from higher rate taxpayers.
In one of the most dramatic illustrations of Labour's new approach to spending, the party has decided it cannot afford the £2.3bn needed to reverse the child benefit decision.In one of the most dramatic illustrations of Labour's new approach to spending, the party has decided it cannot afford the £2.3bn needed to reverse the child benefit decision.
The move, reported by the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson and verified by the Guardian, comes as the party repositions itself on tax and spending.The move, reported by the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson and verified by the Guardian, comes as the party repositions itself on tax and spending.
Ed Miliband is expected to announce on Thursday, in one of his most significant speeches on welfare, that he is prepared to impose limits on the areas of welfare spending that do not automatically fluctuate with the economic cycle.Ed Miliband is expected to announce on Thursday, in one of his most significant speeches on welfare, that he is prepared to impose limits on the areas of welfare spending that do not automatically fluctuate with the economic cycle.
Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, announced on Monday that Labour would accept the current spending plans for 2015-16, to be unveiled by George Osborne on 26 June, as the basis for his plans.Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, announced on Monday that Labour would accept the current spending plans for 2015-16, to be unveiled by George Osborne on 26 June, as the basis for his plans.
The decision to stick with the coalition decision on child benefit marks a change of tack for Labour, which has previous attacked the move on the grounds that it undermined one of Britain's defining universal benefits. But it is being seen in Labour circles as the logical conclusion of the Balls speech on Monday in which the shadow chancellor announced that winter fuel payments would no longer be made to higher rate taxpayers.The decision to stick with the coalition decision on child benefit marks a change of tack for Labour, which has previous attacked the move on the grounds that it undermined one of Britain's defining universal benefits. But it is being seen in Labour circles as the logical conclusion of the Balls speech on Monday in which the shadow chancellor announced that winter fuel payments would no longer be made to higher rate taxpayers.
In a speech to Thomson Reuters, Balls said: "Labour must start planning now for what will be a very tough inheritance in 2015. It will require us to govern in a very different way with much less money around. We will need an iron discipline and a relentless focus on our priorities."In a speech to Thomson Reuters, Balls said: "Labour must start planning now for what will be a very tough inheritance in 2015. It will require us to govern in a very different way with much less money around. We will need an iron discipline and a relentless focus on our priorities."
The Miliband speech on Thursday is designed to set out a broad picture on welfare and not to focus on individual benefits, though he may now refer to child benefit in light of the BBC report.The Miliband speech on Thursday is designed to set out a broad picture on welfare and not to focus on individual benefits, though he may now refer to child benefit in light of the BBC report.
The Labour leader is planning to announce that he would impose a cap on parts of government spending known as "annually managed expenditure". This is the spending, covering debt interest payments, pensions, most welfare spending and payments to the EU, that do not automatically rise or fall in line with economic growth. It is understood that Miliband is keen to target housing benefit.The Labour leader is planning to announce that he would impose a cap on parts of government spending known as "annually managed expenditure". This is the spending, covering debt interest payments, pensions, most welfare spending and payments to the EU, that do not automatically rise or fall in line with economic growth. It is understood that Miliband is keen to target housing benefit.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.