11 October 2010
Speaking during a Commons debate on welfare reform, Harriett Baldwin expresses her surprise that the Leader of the Opposition would like to restore child benefit to those earning higher salaries.
Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): As a Back-Bench MP, I receive child benefit. Prior to entering the House, I was even better paid and received child benefit. Was the Secretary of State as surprised as I was to learn that the new Leader of the Opposition would like to restore child benefit to people like me?
Mr Duncan Smith: He may be after my hon. Friend's vote, in which case we will have to do some quiet talking. It is a ludicrous position to take. We now have a Labour party in opposition which prefers to defend the very wealthiest, and a coalition that wants to defend the worst off.
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