Labour Hopefuls Oppose Harman's Welfare Stance

Three Labour leadership hopefuls say they will oppose Harriet Harman's plan to support the Government's proposals to cut child tax credits.

Ms Harman, the party's acting leader, faces a bruising meeting with MPs later after endorsing key parts of the Welfare Bill.

She says her party should accept George Osborne's plans for a household benefits cap of £23,000 a year in London and £20,000 outside it.

She also said the party should support a third-child limit on future tax credits claims.

Three of the four leadership candidates have now distanced themselves from Ms Harman's position.

A spokesman for Andy Burnham said: "George Osborne did not set out the details of these cuts before the election and he has no mandate for them. David Cameron even denied they would happen."

Yvette Cooper's spokesman said: "Yvette has made clear from the start that she does not believe the best way to reduce the deficit is to hit working families, reduce work incentives and push more children in to poverty."

Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn added: "If it is proposed that Labour MPs are being asked to vote for the Government's plans to cut benefits to families I am not willing to vote for policies that will push more children in to poverty."

The fourth candidate, Liz Kendall, defended Ms Harman, saying: "We have to put forward a different credible alternative and Harriet was absolutely right to say that."

Ms Harman told the BBC's Sunday Politics: "I think we won't oppose the Welfare Bill. We won't oppose the household benefit cap.

"I mean, for example, what they brought forward in relation to restricting benefits and tax credits for people ... with three or more children.

"I mean, what we've got to do is listen to what people around the country said to us and recognise that we didn't get elected, again, and this wasn't a blip, this was the second time we haven't got elected, and actually what people don't want us to do is they don't want us to do blanket opposition.

"Which is not because people love the Tories particularly, but because they didn't trust us on the economy and on benefits."

Explain her child tax credit stance, she said many parents would like to have a third child but cannot afford it.

She added: "They're working hard and they feel that it's unfair on other people, that they can have bigger families that they would love to have if they were in the position to do that. Now we have to listen to that."