The pros and cons of tweaking the housing benefit cuts

It says a lot about the Lib Dems that a meeting between their party leader and deputy leader can throw up so many policy differences. When Nick Clegg and Simon Hughes chatted behind closed doors yesterday, the latter sought concessions over the coalition’s housing benefit cuts – the cuts that Clegg then had to defend in the House. This morning, it was reported that he might just get some of them, even though Downing St are denying the story.

Most popular

James Delingpole

No one will convince me that Keira Knightley can fight: Black Doves reviewed

Regardless of the outcome, the situation is reminiscent of the child benefit cut for higher-rate taxpayers. A policy was announced, only for the coalition to start pulling back from it in the face of both internal and external opposition. Yes, in that case, the cut remains – but only after David Cameron claimed that its inherent anomalies would be ironed out, in time, and dusted off the marriage tax break for the party faithful.