Government “Cop out?”

Wednesday, 01 February 2012 10:54

Written by Editor

Universities Minister David Willets has accused Labour of being out of touch with the people of Britain after it voted against welfare reforms in the House of Lords saying they had “copped out”.

This week’s vote will take place in the Commons on the government’s plans to cap benefits at £26,000 a year. The most prominent defeat on the Bill came on Monday when peers agreed an amendment proposed by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, to remove child benefit from the £26,000-a-year cap.

Mr Duncan Smith (pictured) pledged to reverse the Lords' decision, stating: "You cannot go on as we've been doing, detaching children from their parents... We have to show the parents that what you do, what choices you make in life, has an effect on your children."
A Labour spokesperson said that the proposals must be amended before they will agree to them.