Church leaders in the North East of England have warned the government that spending cuts and welfare changes are having a “scandalous” impact on communities in their region.

The assertion that “those at the top and those at the bottom are being hit hardest” by the government's austerity policies suggests a misleading equivalence, says Simon Barrow. In reality it is those with least who are being punished most.

Cuts and caps on tax credits and child benefit, announced by the Chancellor yesterday, will harms working families, the TUC has warned.