Few would have expected such a move by the Conservative government. Perhaps like Obama and his dealings with the left, the UK government is confident that their supporters have nowhere else to go. Well, nowhere except sitting at home at election time. As for the criticism of the bankers, it does appear to be more hot air to win over the middle who are still fuming over the news of the 2010 banker bonus plans. Besides big talk, it's doubtful the bankers will be asked to join the cuts. The Independent:
George Osborne imposed the pain of his spending cuts on the Conservative Party's natural supporters yesterday by announcing that child benefit will be axed for families where one parent pays the 40 per cent tax rate.
In an attempt to reassure the middle classes, the Chancellor's high stakes gamble was coupled with a crackdown on workless families accused of milking the benefit system. Claimants will no longer be able to claim more than £500 a week in benefits – the median income for working families after tax.
In his speech to the Tory party conference in Birmingham, Mr Osborne said his "tough but fair" mantra would also apply to the banks. He warned: "We will not allow money to flow unimpeded out of those banks into huge bonuses, if that means money is not flowing out in credit to the small businesses who did nothing to cause this crash and suffered most in it."
