Before Barbara Castle interfered with the child benefits system, you had to CLAIM to receive it. The needy did so. This was no complex benefit - the very existence of which was unknown to ordinary people - it was claimed by those who needed it on lower incomes.Making it a universal benefit caused bureaucratic mayhem - probably as intended.
Now, Financial Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke argues that this should be restricted to just the first two children and on our overcrowded islands and this is nothing less than common sense.
I must insist however, that for this to be fair, it would only apply to new claimants and those already carrying a child would also not be included. It would be wrong to remove the benefits in any manner other than gradually.
