Government should think again on Tax Credit plans that will hit local families-

Over 5000 households in Hinckley and Bosworth are due to receive a letter from the Government over the next few weeks explaining how the Chancellor's plans to change the tax credit system will affect them from April next year.

Tax Credits are widely acknowledged to have played a major role in reducing the numbers of children in poverty in this country from 35% to 19% between 1998/99 and 2012/13. In his Summer Budget, called just after the Election this year, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans to slash the amount of money that families will be able to claim in tax credits. As a result the letters will bring bad news for an estimated 7,500 children across the Bosworth constituency in the run up to Christmas this year as they will force their parents to consider what savings they will can make to cover the proposed shortfall in their income.

Speaking ahead of the Chancellor's planned Autumn Statement Hinckley County Councillor and Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for Bosworth Michael Mullaney called on Mr Osborne to show some heart and change his mind. Michael said:

"Hitting families with news of this cut just before Christmas is heartless. The Conservatives claim to be the party for ordinary working people makes no sense, it seems the only thing they are actually creating is hardship for families and pushing them into the arms of loan sharks and pay day lenders.

"I urge George Osborne to look at alternative plans. It is not too late for him to change his mind."