Nick asks, "Is Osborne Cruel or Crazy?"

Dacorum Councillor and Liberal Democrat activist Nick Hollinghurst was appalled when, during the Tory party conference last week, Chancellor George Osborne announced his plan to freeze benefits and tax credits for two years. Councillor Hollinghurst said, "I am appalled at both the insensitivity the Tory Chancellor and his lack of good sense in threatening 10 million households in this way. Moreover, this will hit more than 5 million working families."

Tax credits are paid to families who have had the drive and initiative to find work and keep a job. They're still on low incomes, but are well on the way to improving their situations and standing on their own two feet.

Roughly one third of our citizens will be hit by the Tory freeze plans, and in-work families with children will lose about £300 per household, with a possible maximum loss of up to £490 a year.

Nick concluded, "Now we're back on track to growth and stability there is less need for harsh measures. There is no longer any excuse at all for hitting the hard up and the low paid. However, when tax cuts for the wealthy are also being mooted by the Tories, Osborne's proposals are just gratuitous cruelty. And as for his plans to knock back those in-work families who are trying to get back on their feet - well, that's completely crazy."