MP joins call to stop cuts

WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has joined forces with Usdaw, the shop workers union, to call on the Coalition Government to stop squeezing family incomes by continuing to cut the help they get through tax credits and other benefits.
Just days before the Budget, at a time when many hard working families are already concerned about how difficult it is to manage their finances, Usdaw arranged to take some of their members, who are being hit the hardest by the Government’s shake up of the welfare state to Parliament, to meet MPs.
John Hannett General secretarry of USDAW said: “Since coming to power the Coalition Government’s austerity measures have already taken hundreds of pounds out of the pockets of hard working families.
”Our members tell us, that despite working hard, it is getting more and more difficult to pay the bills, put food on the table and clothe their children”
“We are concerned that things are only going to get worse – as the Government’s flawed bedroom tax comes into force and further changes to tax credits later this year, hit almost 3 million families who will lose on average – £137 each month.”
“Next week’s Budget is the Government’s chance to prove that it cares about children and families. It is time for this Government to do a U turn – stop cutting family incomes and start to support hard working families.”
Helen Jones added: “I was pleased to join members of Usdaw at their recent event at the House of Commons. Trade unions like Usdaw have an important job to do – speaking up for their members”
“More than one in every four children are already growing up in poverty and of those children 62%, has at least one person in their home who is employed.”
“Families in Warrington North and around the country are getting squeezed tighter and tighter – it’s time for the Coalition Government to stop cutting and start listening to hard pressed families.”
Pictures shows Helen Jones MP with USDAW member Janette Parker