The Tories are in a real mess over tax credits, the issue that kicks off this thread. Tonight, the much maligned u-turn over tax credits took another turn in the House of Lords, which voted in favour of two amendments, one of which delays implementation for three years, to give the government time to implement a scheme that will compensate the low-paid workers that presently stand to lose out.
Tory MPs are said to be livid with Cameron’s volte-face, George Osborne has been on Sky News accusing the Lords of breaking constitutional convention, while the government has been accused of lying about the matter to win the General Election.
This is also arguably Corbyn’s first victory. He has hammered this point in PMQs (three questions were devoted to it last week) and had his caused helped by Michelle Dorrell, the Tory voter that publicly shamed Amber Rudd on Question Time.
Is this blip, or turning point? Barring any serious shenanigans from Osborne with this constitutional convention bollocks (the Lords are there to moderate the law the commons produces, amendments are part of the deal), people won’t actually be hit by the tax credits changes for three years, and under the proposed amendments, perhaps not at all. The reforms are already being watered down, according to the Telegraph.
This could be something that can be swept under the carpet and forgotten about, at least for now.
Equally, it could be the point where more of the British public start casting a careful eye on what the government is up to.
What do we reckon? Are the Tories in trouble over Tax Credits, and possibly more?