Dear Sir Chancellor George Osborne is trying to cut crucial funding designed to help people in crisis - people hit by flooding, fire, or domestic violence. [1] Without this vital safety net, stricken families would be left penniless and without food. He could announce the cut later today – let’s try to stop him. Osborne’s latest plan is a cut too far - even other government ministers are coming out against it. The Guardian’s reporting that other ministers are feeling the pressure over “the unpopularity of welfare cuts and the rising use of food banks”. A huge public outcry, just as MPs are getting ready to go home for Christmas, could split the government further - and force Osborne to back down. He could announce the cuts today. Please sign the emergency petition now: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/osborne-christmas-cuts Whether it’s a violent partner, flood, or fire, anyone can suddenly find themselves up against it. Until now, the government has given councils funds to offer emergency help. [2] If George Osborne manages to scrap this fund, people could be left with nowhere to turn. As a proportion of government spending, the sums of money involved are pretty small. But this is about the kind of Britain we want to live in. Can it really be right to scrap emergency support for people hit by crisis? Do we really want to leave people in hardship to suffer? To rely on food banks? Or even worse, loan sharks? George Osborne could make his announcement as early as this afternoon. Let’s take a stand and tell him this is a cut too far. Please sign emergency petition now: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/osborne-christmas-cuts Thanks for being involved, David, Belinda, Nat, Maddy and the 38 Degrees team PS: Rumour is Osborne will make an announcement on this today. If thousands of us sign the petition, we can stop him in his tracks and force a rethink. The more of us that share the petition on Facebook and Twitter too, the more powerful the message. Click here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/osborne-christmas-cuts NOTES [1] The Guardian: Cabinet split over crisis fund for vulnerable people: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/dec/17/cabinet-split-crisis-fund-george-osborne-eric-pickles [2] Child Poverty Action Group: Local Welfare Assistance schemes: http://www.cpag.org.uk/lwas