This week the House of Lords ignored 300 years of accepting that elected MPs decide financial matters and stopped the Government's reform of tax credits.
Personally I think tax credit reform is important. Employers should pay a fair, proper wage and a system in which so much taxpayers' money is raised from those in work to subsidise others in work is not sensible long term. We want to move to a position in which there are higher wages, lower taxes and a lower requirement for welfare. That was why the Government introduced the National Living Wage and is increasing the level of salary below which no income tax is paid.
The Government also hopes to deliver a doubling of free pre school education to working parents with 3 and 4 year olds. I visited this weekend a brand new pre-school, opening in Horsham. Early years education can transform life chances and its hugely important the Government gets this right. Having spoken to local pre-schools I have taken up their cause direct with Ministers. I have also been forthright in demanding a fairer funding deal for all Sussex schools.
However I recognise that all Government spending requires difficult choices. Every year we add an extra £3,300 per household onto our national debt - money that will have to be paid off by future generations. At present we pay £1billion of interest every week on the national debt, and its rising. Spending extra Government money is often popular. Unfortunately reforms to help build a more vibrant economy in which people earn fair wages, companies invest to improve productivity and there is a lower requirement for welfare support, can be very difficult. It is though the right goal and changes to tax credit reform that could alleviate some of the concerns are being looked into by my select committee. As for arcane discussions about constitutional conventions, they are best left in the Westminster bubble but the elected Government has a hugely tough task which the Lords’ tax credit vote has just made harder.