TORY

MP Tracey Crouch was absolutely right to say that struggling families worried about cuts to tax credits should consider giving up their pay-TV subscriptions.

She’d told The Spectator magazine: ‘Some of my most heart-breaking cases are those that come to me saying they are struggling and then you go through with them their expenditure and income… and actually they just haven’t realised some of the savings that they need to make themselves. You know, it can be things like paid subscriptions to TV.’

Although she was vilified by the Left, some Labour MPs have given their support. Veteran backbencher Frank Field says: ‘I think she’s very brave… It’s part of a very necessary debate.’

Former MP Tom Harris asks those critical of Crouch: ‘Do you think people in receipt of state benefits should be immune from having to economise?’

Neither Field nor Harris has much to lose. But there will always be those who see political advantage in opposing the idea that benefit recipients should take responsibility for their spending.