We are at risk of taxing ourselves into oblivion

I RECENTLY took part in a newspaper debate on the issue of the universality of child benefit.

I believe that in an environment where very hard choices will have to be made to restore some semblance of order to the public finances, the payment of child benefit to anybody with children, regardless of wealth or income, is inappropriate and unaffordable, and should be looked at in the upcoming budget.

Not too surprisingly, I have got an incredibly negative reaction from some people. The responses ranged from rude to downright personally insulting.