High Peak Liberal Democrats

Labour's plans for those on benefits, to be tougher than IDS

So, that cat is out of the bag for Labour. In spite of the crocodile tears and faux anger at what the Coalition has done on welfare, today's story in The Observer "Labour will be tougher than Tories on benefits, promises new welfare chief" shows the reality of their plans for those unfortunate to need help from the State.

Rachel Reeves is quoted as saying "Nobody should be under any illusions that they are going to be able to live a life on benefits under a Labour government," she said. "If you can work you should be working, and under our compulsory jobs guarantee if you refuse that job you forgo your benefits, and that is really important."

This presumably means that if you are offered a job, regardless of whether it is suitable or you can even get there, that's it! If you are claiming benefits, you must accept that job. Yes this will get people off benefits, either into possibly unsuitable work or life without any benefits, at what cost? Parents without transport cut off from state support because they can't get to a job, disabled people losing their financial support because they are unable to do the job they are offered, my guess is as good as yours.

Labour have form in this area, don't forget it was the last labour Government that introduced Work Capability Assessment and gave the contract to Atos Healthcare; It was Labour that introduced the workfare programme New Deal, the forerunner of the Work Programme; Sanctioning of JSA claimants started to increase under Labour[i]

The Lib Dems are not without guilt in making sure the benefit systems is improved for those needing. I, and may other Lib Dems I know, feel that the Lib Dems in Government could have and should have done more to curb Ian Duncan Smith in what seems to be his crusade against people on benefits.

I do not know what horse trading went on in the Coalition over this (and those that do know are not talking, yet). Maybe the price for not stopping IDS was getting the Pupil Premium through, a policy that has successfully raise attainment among disadvantaged children[ii] or raising the Income Tax thresholds which has given most workers a £800 tax cut from next April and taken over 3 million low paid workers out of paying tax at all, both policies that have made a real improvement in the lives of families on low incomes.

What is undeniable is that on this evidence, if Rachel Reeves and the current Labour Party are allowed to get their hands on the benefit system without a Coalition partner willing to hold back their excesses, then what IDS has done to those needing help will seem like a teddy bears picnic.

[i] http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/Welfare-conditionality-UK-Summary.pdf

[ii] https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/raising-the-achievement-of-disadvantaged-children/supporting-pages/pupil-premium

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