New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
16 October 2015

Watch: tearful mother who voted Tory confronts minister over tax credit cuts

Conservative MP and Energy Secretary Amber Rudd was attacked by a woman on the edge of tears about her government's tax credits policy.

By New Statesman

A distressed mother on Question Time confronted the Tory Energy Secretary Amber Rudd about her government’s tax credit cuts policy. Rudd looked uncomfortable as the mother shouted “shame on you!”, decrying the proposals that could see over 3m families £1,300 a year worse off.

Watch it here:

She was on the edge of tears as she told the minister:

“I voted for the Conservatives originally, because I thought you were going to be the better chance for me and my children. You’re about to cut tax credits after promising you wouldn’t. I work bloody hard for my money. To provide for my children to give them everything they’ve got – and you’re going to take it away from me and them.

“I can hardly afford the rent I’ve got to pay, I can hardly afford the bills I’ve got to do, and you’re going to take more from me . . . Shame on you!”

> Now read Anoosh Chakelian’s Q&A on tax credits and the government’s plans to cut them.

Subscribe to The New Statesman today for only £1 per week

Content from our partners
The future of exams
Skills are the key to economic growth
Skills Transition is investing in UK skills and jobs