Labour faces accusations of u-turn after pledging to cap child benefit

He will emphasise tomorrow that while the decision to cap rises in child benefit has been tough, Labour remains committed to bringing back the 50p rate of income tax.

The shadow chancellor will also unveil plans to cut minister's pay by 5 per cent then freeze it for most of the next parliament.

He will also confirm that Labour will axe the winter fuel allowance for the richest 5 per cent of pensioners.

He will say: "At a time when the public services that pensioners rely on are under such pressure, we will stop paying the winter fuel allowance to the richest five per cent of pensioners.

“I want to see child benefit rising again in line with inflation in the next parliament, but we will not spend money we cannot afford.

"So for the first two years of the next parliament, we will cap the rise in child benefit at one per cent. It will save £400 million in the next Parliament. And all the savings will go towards reducing the deficit.

“Because we are all clear that everybody in the next Labour government will be fully focused on that vital task of getting the deficit down.”

On ministerial pay, he will say: “The next Labour government will get the deficit down. And Ed Miliband and all my Shadow Cabinet colleagues are clear it will mean cuts and tough decisions and we will take the lead.

“So I can announce today that if we win the election, on day one of the next Labour government the pay of every government Minister will immediately be cut by five per cent."

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