Moral Maze - 20/10/2010

After months of warnings, the UK's "age of austerity" will begin in earnest with the government's announcement of the results of its Spending Review. This week the Moral Maze asks, if we've got so little money, should we continue to give state benefits to those who don't really need the money? If it's morally justified to cut child benefit for higher rate tax payers to protect the poor in society, what other universal benefits should we look at? Is it time to make the welfare state just for the poor? Will an age of austerity help us to ask more fundamental questions about our own and society's priorities; to re-set our moral compass. Or will it inevitably lead to judgementalism and scapegoating? Combative, provocative and engaging live debate chaired by Michael Buerk with Clifford Longley, Matthew Taylor, Claire Fox and Melanie Philips.