WORCESTERSHIRE MPs say their support for the controversial tax credit cuts remains firm despite the plans receiving a double blow in the House of Lords.

Last week your Worcester News reported on the changes that could see more than 22,000 families across the county be stung by cuts to their tax credit, with calls for the reforms to be scrapped.

Figures revealed up to 23,000 Worcestershire householders could be hit by the cuts in working tax credit and child tax credit, affecting low-paid workers.

Key changes proposed include slashing in half the amount people can earn before tax credits reduce, from £6,420 to £3,850, and families will only be able to claim child tax credit for two children from April 2017.

On Monday evening, Chancellor George Osborne's proposed changes to welfare reform suffered a double defeat in the House of Lords.

Peers voted by a majority on a motion for the government to provide full financial redress to the millions of tax credit claimants affected when entitlements are reduced, and backed a delay in the cuts until an assessment of their financial impact is carried out.

Mr Osbourne, at Treasury questions in the House of Commons, confirmed that he would announce plans to ease the transition to lower tax credits in November's Autumn Statement - but insisted he will press ahead with the changes.

Throughout the debate, the Chancellor has argued the changes save taxpayers £4.4 million, and will be offset by 2020 - the end of the current Parliament - due to tax and benefit changes, including the £9 National Living Wage.

Worcester MP Robin Walker said his position, that the direction of the reforms was right, had not altered.

"I accept there might be some cases where we need to mitigate the impact," the MP said.

"That was why I wrote to the Chancellor before the Lords vote, and I'm happy to look into individual constituents cases and take them to the Treasury.

"We need to take it in context. We have seen some big increases in wages, the cost of living has eased off, and fuel prices are lower. The living wage is a crucial part in this.

"If we make sure people are better off so that they don't need tax credits, it is a more efficient system."

Nigel Huddleston, the MP for Mid-Worcestershire, said he was surprised that the Lords had acted in a party political way and decided to "overstep the mark" with their vote.

Mr Huddleston said: "I do broadly support the package of measures - many people, eight of 10, will benefit.

"I'm not unsympathetic to the cases of people who have to make sacrifices.

"But there is a lot of confusion out there about the impact. We had some people in my surgery that when we put their finances through the calculator, there would be no impact at all."

West Worcestershire's MP Harriett Baldwin said: “On Monday night, unelected Labour and Liberal Democrat Lords defeated a financial matter passed by the elected House of Commons to deliver part of our manifesto commitment to reduce welfare spending. This raises constitutional issues that need to be tackled. 
"They did not seem to take into account that the National Living Wage will rise ten per cent next year and by 34 per cent by 2020, nor that the tax free allowance is rising to £12,500, nor that 30 hours of free childcare are worth £5,000 to a working parent.
"However, it has happened; and what we must address are the consequences of that. The Chancellor said he would listen, and that's precisely what he intends to do. We believe we can achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits, saving the money we need to save to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.
 
“There will be further steps announced in the Autumn Statement to deliver that lower welfare, higher wage economy that we were elected to deliver and the British people want to see."