MP supports benefits cap

Government moves to ensure that no family can get more in benefits than the average Exmouth family earns, has been welcomed by East Devon MP Hugo Swire.

The government has passed the Welfare Reform Bill, which means that a household on out of work benefits will be capped at �26,000 tax free per year.

On introduction the cap, which is linked to weekly average earnings, will be set at �500 per week for couple and single parent households – this is the same as �35,000 a year before tax, �26,000 after tax.

According to Devon County Council’s ‘Devonomics’ website a single person’s average annual salary in East Devon is �18,537.21. This translates into wages of �354 a week – Mr Swire estimates that the benefit cap for single adult households will be �350 per week.

They criticised Labour MPs voting to oppose the �26,000 benefit cap.

However, Labour MPs argue that a one-size-fits-all cap across the UK, where the cost of living can vary, was unfair and effectively forces some benefit claimants to move from areas that they grew up in.

Hugo Swire said: “This benefit cap shows that Conservatives are the party of fairness, standing up for hard working taxpayers.”

“By voting against it, Labour has once again shown they are the party of something for nothing.”