Child benefit cuts - fair or unfair? Preposterous or necessary? Mums and carers should have an opinion on this subject because it matters to us all!! Once the government goes down the track of taking away this universal benefit then it is unlikely to ever come back. Is this progress in our developed country where family and children are our future?
I was told by my local conservative MP that this is one of the most popular policies within the Conservative party!! Are they totally out of touch or simply wouldn't miss the benefit at all because their income is so high? If universality is out of the question then why this tax bracket proposal? It is fraught with difficulties, seems ridiculously unfair to single income families and yet why won't Government consider means testing just because it is 'simpler' not to? What about women's/full time carers pensions currently linked to child benefit? Surely we should not lose out twice for making the positive decision to be full time mums? What about the changing circumstances that families undergo all the time - divorce, remarriage, new jobs, redundcancy - how will the proposed policy cope with this? Will government take notice of Treasury's advice about the 'unworkability' of this policy?
It is great there is so much debate about this issue on Mumsnet. We care and are important voters for political parties! We need to make sure the child benefit issue is kept on the government's agenda and that they know our strength of feeling. Please post if you would like to put your questions and share your views with a minister from the Government responsible for these proposals online at mumsnet.