The rich and child benefit

So child benefit will not be universal from 2013. There are arguments to support keeping the benefit universal. There are extra costs to a means-tested benefit. Even in a household with a high income one parent may not receive enough money. However these are not strong arguments. In a similar fashion it is often difficult for me to feel sorry for holidaymakers who lose their holiday. There are so many people who can't afford a holiday in the first place.

On the other hand it is a really strong argument that says those who are very rich don't need child benefit, especially in the present economic climate. One mother was on the news a couple of days ago saying how life would be much harder for them (in three years time) as they are poor even though they had good incomes. They only drive two old cars. Again it is hard to feel sorry for her when many families have to make ends meet on less than half that amount.

I was motivated to write this blog because Labour said the move undermined the coalition's claim to be a family-friendly government. No it doesn't. However this response does undermine Labour's claim to be a good opposition. Take a survey yourself. Who thinks the really rich should receive child benefit?

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