Osborne Warns Lords After Tax Credit Defeats

George Osborne has sworn to rein in the House of Lords as he prepared to face MPs after peers delivered a double defeat to plans to cut tax credits.

The Chancellor said he and the Prime Minister were "clear" the actions of the unelected second chamber had constitutional implications which would "need to be dealt with".

David Cameron has ordered a "rapid review" after peers defied a long-standing parliamentary convention not to obstruct financial decisions approved by the elected Commons.

The Lords twice voted to delay the welfare changes, which opponents warned could leave low-paid families up to £1,300 a year worse off.

As a result, Mr Osborne was forced to announce that plans to help people hit by the £4.4bn cuts would be set out in next month's Autumn Statement.

He faces a rough ride over the debacle when he appears for Treasury questions in the Commons later.

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