Jim Murphy misses the point especially in East Ren where the cost of living is much lower than the South of England. Sure anyone earning £50k can well afford to bring up their own children?
Children are not something to have because of the state benefits they bring. If you can't afford them think carefully before you have them.
For those who buy into global concerns and believe food and water are likely to be in shorter supply in future, how irresponsible is it for the state to actively encourage unlimited expansion of the population.
Perhaps Ken Macintosh with his 6 kids can advise on the difficulties he encounters if any, to raise a large family on a mere MSPs salary?
However Jim is right in one respect. The playing field should be levelled and the government should announce now that all child benefit will cease for all children born 12 months hence. The state provides more than enough by way of the NHS and free education without throwing in cash. Might be a choice between satellite dishes, multiple cars and numerous holidays.
Btw was the tax threshold not raised at the same time?

However it's good to see Jim is not just there for the poorer in society. What next from Jim? Money spent on Eastwood residents perhaps? Blimey!

Agreed. Tax threshold was indeed raised, so the 'loss' is not so great as people claim.
The point ought to be remembered, too, that for many years ChildBenefit, then known as Family Allowance, was only available for the second and subsequent children. In a family with 2 children, F.A. ceased when the eldest attained the age of 16.

The trouble is always caused when govts are too generous with taxpayers' money, and dole out...no pun intended...more and more handouts. When it becomes apparent we cannot afford this generosity, there is an outcry from the recipients and those who seek their votes by siding with them.
The welfare state was intended as a safety net for those in dire straits, not to make it easier to fund car ownership and holidays. It was to be a better option than the workhouse, or starving on the street, not a way of life.
If you have to choose between holidays abroad, cars, electronic gadgets etc and children, so be it. I had to. Society is far too decadent and materialistic nowadays. Time for some to consider their priorities.

Shock, horror...children can be happy, and so can their parents, with less of the material stuff of modern life. If people cannot manage on 40k a year, without handouts, then they need to look at their spending habits. Some of us have never had a quarter of that and did not feel deprived.

Oh! and one I forgot

Members of Parliament.