Can I believe the Chancellor?

Careful what you say about 'Daily Mail readers' MamaCaz - not everyone on here is a committed Guardian-only reader!

Ana, if there was a wicked grin emoticon on the site, I would have used it there. I admit that I couldn't resist being a little mischievous

(Actually, I've never bought the Guardian in my life, although when I'm Googling politics I will read relevant articles from any newspaper whatsoever. The only newspaper to be found in our home is in fact the DM, bought and read by DH. )

he did express it very badly (whizz along to 02:18:40 if you want to hear it)

He said this after the July budget.

" And as promised, child benefit will be maintained.

These changes to Tax Credits are not easy but they are fair, and they return tax credit spending to the level it was in 2007-08 in real terms.

When we came to office in 2010 this country had reached the point where a benefit that was intended to support lower income households, was instead available to 9 out of 10 families in this country.

Now, our properly focussed reformed Tax Credit system will provide support to 5 out of 10 families – a much more sustainable balance in our welfare system.

So it does include child benefit. But I don't think it includes retirement pension.

Child benefit wasn't means tested in 2010 though. In the clip he refers to 90% of people in this country being on means tested benefits.

I don't understand it. Completely