Westfield Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision to scrap planned cuts to Tax Credits.

Figures highlighted by the Lib Dems in October showed that 8,000 low-income families in York were set to lose out under Conservative plans. Lib Dems opposed the move saying it undermined the work of the Coalition Government to make sure it always pays more to be in work than on benefits.

The dramatic U-turn was announced yesterday by the Chancellor George Osborne in his Autumn Statement.

Cllr Sue Hunter, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Westfield who has been campaigning against the cuts, said:

“I am pleased that the Chancellor has been forced into this U-Turn and the planed changes have been scrapped. The cuts threatened to hammer 8,000 working families in York.

“Locally, we have campaigned against these cuts which were also opposed by Lib Dems in the House of Lords. We need to make sure that work always pays more than choosing to remain on benefits. These changes threatened to completely undermine this important principle.

“We now need to look carefully at what George Osborne is proposing and how the wider welfare changes and move to Universal Credit will impact on people. As ever, the devil will be in the detail when it comes to the effect on residents in York.”