Bishop rebuffs Duncan-Smith's diatribe in row on benefit cap
'Bishop Packer will today put forward a motion in the House of Lords – where he sits alongside 25 fellow Church of England bishops – to amend Mr Duncan Smith’s proposed £26,000 cap on the total amount any household can receive in payouts.
The bishop wants child benefit to be exempt, so that children in large families do not suffer disproportionately.
Yesterday leading religious figures signed a letter backing his stance, and the Government now faces a real battle when the Lords vote is taken today, with Ministers fearing a combination of Church of England bishops and rebel Lib Dems could undermine the planned £500-a-week cap on benefit payments.
Mr Duncan Smith urged the bishops to rethink their objections, insisting they were not doing the poor any favours. “The question I’d ask these bishops is, over all these years, why have they sat back and watched people being placed in houses they cannot afford? It’s not a kindness,” he said'
Much more at link; all quite interesting!
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/bishop_rebuffs_duncan_smith_s_diatribe_in_row_on_benefit_cap_1_4170070
N.B. In the end, the House of Lords voted narrowly for the benefit cap; but also voted to exempt child benefit; i.e. the Bishop's amendment was successful.
