Amidst all the budget fuss over 50p tax rates for the very wealthy and the ‘injustice’ of higher rate taxpayers losing out on Child Benefit, who is prepared to speak up for 212,000 low income working families set to lose £3,870 a year each? It is they who are facing the biggest cut in incomes come April this year.

“Even the burial of his body in the Abbey was a species of theft when you come to think of it”. George Orwell's words came into my mind as I watched the ceremonies surrounding today's 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

The government is proposing to cut the Social Fund, which provides emergency support for poor, sick and vulnerable people in desperate need.