| 'Conservative child benefit cut will cripple us,' says stay-at-home mother Rachel Devine – whose partner earns just over the £44,000 tax threshold – attacks scrapping of £130-a-month paymentWhen she heard George Osborne announcing the end of child benefit for families with an earner in the 40% tax band, Rachel Devine, a stay-at-home mother with two daughters under five, went straight to her intricate household budget spreadsheet.How would she and her partner, relying only on the earnings that tip him over the £44,000 higher tax threshold, cope with the loss of £130 a month? "I've looked and looked and looked, and it's just not there. It will cripple us."Were she and her partner married, the benefit blow might eventually be softened by promised tax breaks. This, she feels, is a doubly unfair blow. "The idea of being forced to make life decisions based on the morals of who's running the country is repellent," she says."It's social engineering and the way they've done it feels like pathetic PR spin."I completely love my partner. I'm completely committed and I think he's the most wonderful man in the world. But we don't need or want to get married."Devine, 41, is still poring over her books. She and her partner, a university lecturer, have just moved into a new home in Surrey – an ex-local authority property – to be closer to his work. It is an ex-local authority property that is not grand, she says, but there is no weighting in the cuts to account for the hyperinflation of house prices in such areas. Devine fears they could even lose the house eventually."It's the fact that David Cameron keeps banging on about it being fair that gets me," she said. "I think it's right that the wealthiest families shouldn't get child benefit, but the cut should be tapered or taxed."We run a tight ship with every penny allocated and watched. This money was crucial, and it wasn't for luxuries. It covered things like shoes and birthday presents for the children."We are the supposed high earners that can 'afford' to do without these benefits who are sniffing cuts of reduced meat in the supermarket and going to charity shops and boot sales for clothes and toys."Now we will be staring at going into the red every month while still working just as hard."Nonetheless, she remains unmoved by the offer of a matrimonial tax break. "Can you imagine what it would be like getting married because the Tories were offering you something?"Child benefitCommunitiesChildrenConservativesRachel Williamsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Barack Obama streaker could receive $1million prize The man who streaked Barack Obama at a rally on Sunday could be in line for a $1million prize. telegraph.co.uk |
Swans' early arrival hints at cold winter Bewick's swans fly in to Slimbridge from Siberia in time for temperatures to drop below freezingThe first Bewick's swans of the season have arrived in the UK, potentially signalling the start of a bitter winter, as temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing in the next few days.According to folklore the early arrival of Bewick's swans heralds a particularly cold winter. Eight of the birds arrived in Gloucestershire yesterday, the earliest they have made their annual trip since 2003.About 300 of the swans, distinguishable by the yellow patches on the top of their bills, make the 2,500-mile trip to Slimbridge Wetland Centre from Siberia each year, the first usually arriving in the last week of October. One of the birds, whom staff have named Risa, has been making the journey for 13 years.With colder air pushing across much of the UK, temperatures are expected to drop to about zero overnight tonight."There will be rain showers, some heavy, in England and Wales, particularly in the afternoon," said Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association."Colder air is coming behind them, and as we go into Tuesday night, it will be cold across the UK, with temperatures close to or below freezing, even down in southern England."In Scotland, cool temperatures will be accompanied by hail, sleet and even snow on high ground.Tomorrow's daytime temperatures are expected to be between 7C and 10C in the south, and 5C-8C in Scotland and on the east coast. Warmer weather is on the way from Thursday – although Ratcliffe warned that conditions would become more unsettled.Jamie Lees, a reserve warden at Slimbridge, said the swans should be unperturbed by the conditions. "They have flown 2,500 miles from their breeding grounds in Russia, so will probably rest for most of today," Lees said.WeatherBirdsWildlifeBirdwatchingAdam Gabbattguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Orgreave: From a riot to a beacon of hope David Cameron has praised the site of one of the most symbolic clashes of the 1984 miners' strike as an area of hi-tech innovation. bbc.co.uk |
Q Awards: A reformed Take That make their first public appearance, at awards ceremony in London A reformed Take That make their first public appearance. telegraph.co.uk |