from the guardian ....

'Two rightwing pressure groups have set out plans for £50bn in cuts, insisting the proposals are practical and will not hurt vital services.

The Taxpayers' Alliance and the Institute of Directors propose abolishing Surestart and child benefit, and imposing a one-year freeze on the basic state pension and on all public-sector pay except for the army.

Both groups hold sway inside the Conservative party and the proposals will be welcomed by shadow ministers eager to have outriders creating a climate of respectability around big cuts.'

more @ Child benefits in Tory lobbyists £50bn spending-cut plan - guardian.co.uk

I'm surprised child Benefit has not been targeted before. Merging it with child tax credits (for back office "efficiency savings") would have the effect of turning it into a means-tested benefit and abolishing it by stealth for wealthier parents. If DLA survives the current green paper, I wouldn't be surprised if it too became a means-tested benefit, sorry - 'allowance'. We will have to become "welfare allowance advisers".

Wow, that would be a real vote-winner in a future Conservative manifesto.

It might be a 'beam me up Scotty' moment once the new lot get in (whovever they turn out to be). If Labour turn it round on the basis of smaller cuts, they should be renamed the Houdini party.