George Osborne 'comfortable' with decision to push ahead with tax credit cuts

George Osborne has insisted he is "comfortable" with his decision to push ahead with tax credit cuts despite mounting pressure from Conservative ranks over the reforms.

The Chancellor also urged the House of Lords not to "second guess" the decision taken by MPs on the controversial benefit changes amid preparations by peers to kill off the measure.

Tory backbenchers are pushing Mr Osborne to find ways to limit the impact of the move on low earners, with senior figures threatening to rebel in a Commons vote next week in a bid to force his hand.

Mr Osborne has refused to hand over specific analysis of the impact that changes will have to the Treasury select committee, telling MPs he has published "vastly more" information than had been provided in the past.

"I have provided a huge amount of information, but it comes down to a very simple judgment, which is do you think our welfare system is too expensive? Do you think we should move to a higher wage, lower welfare economy and ultimately that's the decision we are all being asked to take as Members of Parliament," he said.

"We all know this is fundamentally a judgment call and I'm comfortable with the judgment call that I've made and that the House of Commons supported this week."

He added: "The House of Commons has passed this measure twice, it now sits in the House of Lords and the question for the House of Lords is, is it going to respect the 1911 settlement that says the House of Lords must not second guess the House of Commons on financial matters?"