Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney
SINN Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has said working families will be up to £1,600 worse off as a result of Tory changes to tax credits.
Mr McCartney said: “Over the last four years the Tory government have cut hundreds of millions of pounds from the most disadvantaged in society.
“They have now launched a further attack on the working poor through cuts to tax credits.
“At the moment the level of tax credits only starts to reduce when the household income
reached £6,420 a year but from April 2016 it will be reduced to £3,850.
“That effectively means families will lose an average of £918 a year.
“In addition to that, the amount of tax paid on amounts above the threshold will now rise,
which will result in a further loss of £712 a year for families.
“That means a working family will lose up to £1,600 a year.
“This further exposes Tory claims of getting people back to work and making work pay.
Instead they are continuing to punish the least well off in society.
“We need to see a broad based campaign reflecting all elements of society opposing Tory
austerity and protecting the most vulnerable.”
