The GMB says that if the government can afford an "irrelevant tax break" it should concede that the money would be better spent on the health and education of our children through introducing free school meals for all primary children. In response to government leaks that the Prime Minister intends to introduce a £150 tax break for the UKs 7.5m married couples, GMB called on him to use the money could be better spent on free school meals for primary pupils.
GMB National Secretary Brian Strutton said, "Giving married couples an insignificant tax break would make no difference to peoples decisions about getting married or staying together and seems like a total irrelevance. However, the same money would be enough to introduce free school meals without the stigma of means testing for all primary school children. It is has been demonstrated in numerous reports that a good lunch improves educational and behavioural performance yet GMB school canteen staff tell GMB that many children whose families do not qualify for free school meals are turning up with 'crisps and chocolate' lunch boxes. If the government can afford an irrelevant tax break it should concede that the money would be better spent on the health and education of our children through introducing free school meals for all primary children."
The Labour party have also attacked the Prime Minister Shadow Treasury Minister, Catherine McKinnell, responding to David Cameron's comments on tax breaks for married couples, saying: "At a time when the Government's failed economic policies mean living standards are falling, we should be helping all families and not just some. Millions of people who are separated, widowed or divorced, as well as married couples where both partners work and use all their personal allowance, won't get any help from this out of touch policy. And even for the minority who might benefit it will be far outweighed by what David Cameron's government has already taken away. After all the IFS says families are on average £891 worse off this year because of things like higher VAT and cuts to tax credits. David Cameron is so weak and out of touch that he's more worried about placating his rebellious backbenchers than the cost of living crisis facing millions of families."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said at the first of his new monthly press conferences that "I have never understood" the Tory position that the "Conservatives want to say to widow u won't benefit, even though you werr married." or to "a woman abandoned by her husband will not get a tax break" he said the married tax break a Tory bid "to hand pick couples through tax system who conform to their image of how you should conduct life". He finished by saying he'd "rather spend money on more childcare than on discriminatory tax break for married couples".
