CEREDIGION AM Elin Jones has called on Chancellor George Osborne to back down on controversial measures to cut tax credits, in the wake of a defeat for his plans in the House of Lords.

The Plaid AM highlighted the likely impact on Ceredigion families if the changes went ahead. Hundreds of working families could see their household incomes cut by well over £1,000 under the Chancellor’s plans.

Official figures show that in Ceredigion, around 2,000 families with children benefit from tax credits. An additional 1,200 low-paid households without children would also lose out under the UK Government’s cuts to working tax credits.

Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for Ceredigion, said: “Tax credits are there to help thousands of lower-paid people. Wales suffers more from low pay than other parts of Britain, with rural areas particularly vulnerable. The government must think again, and stop placing an unfair burden on low-paid workers in seeking to balance the books.”