Child benefit is to be axed for higher rate taxpayers from 2013, Chancellor George Osborne has announced.
Talking on BBC One's Breakfast ahead of his appearance at the Conservative party conference, he said the move would save about £1bn.
"It's a big decision for us, but we think it's absolutely necessary and fair given the financial situation we face," he said.
Parents earning over about £44,000 who pay 40% tax and above will be affected.
Mr Osborne said: "It's very hard to justify taxing people on much lower incomes in order to pay the child benefit to some of the better off in our society."
He confirmed the cut would hit homes with a single or two high earners. But families with two parents on more modest incomes - which might add up to over £44,000 - will keep the benefit.
He defended this by saying his plan was "the most straightforward" option - which avoided means testing.
I agree that if a family is in receipt of a joint wage exceeding 44k and have one child (or even 2 children), then they are not in as much need of CB in comparison to a family who are not earning that amount. That's quite clear cut and fair I would say.
BUT
What about single parents who may just scrape the 44k threshold who have 3 or 4 children. Or even families with both parents who have 3 or 4 children who just border the threshold?
While I agree in principal with their idea, something doesn't feel right and I think it SHOULD be means tested on a case by case basis. Some salaries are dependant on bonuses so will fluctuate depending on achievement, not everyone earns a flat basic salary.
He has also cut the cold weather payments for pensioners 
Anyone with half a brain knows how bloody expensive fuel is these days - why is he taking from the most needy when in his manifesto he clearly said this wouldn't be the case?
Yes, Cameron is trying to make his shit stick and show he's gonna sort this country out (and keep banging on about the debt Labour left him with - nobody forced the bloody git to stand did they) - but I am NOT liking his tactics thus far.
I do like a Monday morning rant!!
People who earn £44k+ aren't really going to rely on child benefit in the same way low income families are, and I did agree that it isn't fair to tax someone on say £18k so someone earning £50K can get child benefit 
it doesn't actually work out to be that much hence the reason a lot of pensioners are still afraid to turn the heating up even though they get this. 
he said he thinks the age is going to be upped to 65, I know we have to have cuts but I wish they would leave the pensioners alone and the less well off working families,I would just like to add I have not applied for my bus pass and have not had a heating payment yet it should be this year, I know I can manage fine without both I dont have the attitude "Im alright Jack**
I want to see the most vulnerable pensioners looked after by the state,I have my doubts they will be under the tories.. we will have to wait and see..
to be honest I was not sure if it was a cut for all I did not think even the tories would go that far,I think they have to be very careful were all these cuts are going to be made and at the speed in they are doing it ie the pensioners, or we may see an uproar like we did when Maggie Thatcher first introduced the poll tax..
