Save the Children slam George Osborne's autumn statement

Chancellor George Osborne is robbing Peter to give to Paul, the head of a Scottish children’s charity has blasted.

Save the Children’s Neil Mathers strongly criticised the Tory MP’s autumn statement announcement yesterday in which he revealed a freeze on Universal Credit Work Allowances for the next year.

The allowance, which is used by some of the poorest in work families to top up their pay, is being frozen as support for childcare costs rises.

The books should not be balanced on the backs of the poorest families

Mathers welcomed the new support but said the fight against child poverty is being undermined by the freeze on working benefits.

“More than three million hard working families – those the chancellor purports to represent – are reliant on benefits to top up their wages to make their hours pay,” Mathers said.

“A freeze means a devaluation and in reality will mean a disincentive to work.

“British parents struggling in minimum wage jobs will see their income cut by this measure and we’re concerned this indicates the shape of things to come.

“The books should not be balanced on the backs of the poorest families.”

There is no value in robbing Peter to give to Paul, he added.