Well we did, finally find one Labour politician speaking about Universal Credit this week.
Newcastle was chosen for an experiment with Universal Credit and it was a disaster
Chronicle.
Leader of Newcastle City Council says the rest of the country will be in for a shock when Universal Credit is rolled out
And he said the rest of the country would be “in for a shock” when Universal Credit is rolled out across the rest of the country.
Speaking at an event during Labour’s annual conference in Brighton, council leader Nick Forbes said most people on Universal Credit in Newcastle were behind on their rent payments.
And in some cases this put them at risk of becoming homeless.
Universal Credit is a new benefit created by the Government to replace a range of existing payments including housing benefit.
It has been introduced gradually, with some places moving onto the new system before others.
Mr Forbes, who is also leader of the Labour group in the Local Government Association, said: “We are the first whole city to be a pilot area for the rollout of Universal Credit.
“And if Universal Credit is rolled out in the same way as it’s affected my city, the country is in for a hell of a shock.
“Because we’ve found that the vast majority of people on Universal Credit in Newcastle are in rent arrears.
“And if the are in rent areas in the social rented sector then we can deal with that, because we can work with them and provide them with support.
“But if they are in rent arears of sometimes 16 to 18 weeks in the private rented sector, that is causing havoc with homelessness and making sure that people feel secure in their own homes.”
Your Homes Newcastle, which manages homes on behalf of Newcastle City Council, told an inquiry by MPs that it was helping struggling claimants to try to prevent them becoming homeless.
Donna Gallagher, Universal Credit Implementation Manager at Your Homes Newcastle, highlighted the difficulties as she gave evidence to the Commons Work and Pensions Committee at a hearing in Westminster.
She said: “In terms of rent arrears, we’ve got over £1.1m additional rent arrears as a result of the cohort, which is just shy of 3,000 that we know about, that is claiming Universal Credit full service.”
Newcastle City Council said delays in sending the first payment to claimants was “frequently referred to as a fundamental problem with Universal Credit”.
In a written submission to the inquiry, the council said: “We think that Universal Credit can place some vulnerable residents at risk of destitution and homelessness.”
Just out….Eastern Daily Press (Principally Norfolk).
The EDP says… Universal Credit must be fixed before roll-out continues
Universal Credit has led to people falling into debt as they wait weeks for their first payments.
It is right for the government to slowly roll out dramatic changes such as universal credit.
But when problems with it are exposed in that gradual introduction the government must stop and listen.
The criticisms of this benefit change are not coming from one political party but from a range of MPs, tenants, landlords and charities.
Those affected by the reform are best placed to say whether it is working – not a civil servant in Whitehall.
It is unusual for Citizens Advice to take such a strong position on government welfare changes as it does in today’s article.
We have seen evidence from Great Yarmouth, where it was introduced last spring, that universal credit in its current form is causing huge problems.
People in need of benefits can not wait a minimum of six weeks for payment. Asking them to wait that length of time causes added misery for those already in a desperate situation.
Universal credit should be there to help them, not plunge them into rent arrears.
It is also very worrying that landlords are refusing to take tenants on universal credit. This again adds to the problems faced by those who have just lost jobs.
Before it is introduced anywhere else delays around paying it must be fixed.
When problems with a system have been exposed, it is irresponsible of the government to continue regardless.
End the Benefit Freeze!
Ipswich Unemployed Action. 
The first comment on EPD.
“i was one of the very few landlords that used to consider benefit claimants as tenants, no more though, it’s a total no now, i have one existing tenant on benefits and when she goes that’s it. there will be a lot of homeless people on our streets causing big problems. government has shot themselves in the foot on this one”.
whoknew
September 28, 2017 at 3:10 pm
– EDP
whoknew
September 28, 2017 at 3:11 pm
But despite it all, the roll-out continues, the DWP have just published the 2018 schedule.
On it goes, like an evil bulldozer driving over the remains of the welfare state.
Universal Cruelty.
Jeff Smith
September 28, 2017 at 3:15 pm
This too continues despite all.
homelessness soars by more than 50% since 2009
whoknew
September 28, 2017 at 4:33 pm
Providing an email address and phone number
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/providing_an_email_address_and_p#incoming-1044820
Dear Mr Wells,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 10 September 2017. You asked:
Are their any circumstances under which claimants can be compelled, legally or otherwise, to
provide a phone number or email address to the DWP?
DWP Response
The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and
Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/380)
sets out the requirements for a claim for Universal Credit (UC).
There is no recorded information on this issue because it is not a legal requirement of claiming
UC that a claimant provides a mobile phone number or an e-mail address. UC can be paid to a
claimant without either of these recorded.
If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number
above.
Yours sincerely,
DWP Strategy FoI Team
jj joop
September 28, 2017 at 4:40 pm
i wonder if they will give you all the info from the online service if you put in a sar for it all.?
superted
September 28, 2017 at 4:45 pm
superted
You can try, superted. But don’t hold your breath.
They will only give you what they feel is in their interests to give you. I made a SAR last year and I didn’t get all the information I requested. I had previously emailed a complaint about a cockroach with two attachments to the Jobcentre manager. I received the attachments but the email detailing my complaint was no where to be found. What a surprise I hear you say.
jj joop
September 28, 2017 at 6:11 pm
must have been filed in the bin with all my cvs then 😉
superted
September 28, 2017 at 7:04 pm
Affordable housing. and rent controls, obviously landlords are against it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/jeremy-corbyn-landlords-labour-rental-properties-new-deal-protect-rights-affordable-housing-a7972216.html
whoknew
September 28, 2017 at 4:53 pm
You can tell when they become evasive.Always remember that a benefit is required to follow the law not the other way around.
West Lancashire MP hits out at Universal Credit ‘shambles’
The controversial system is being rolled out across the country
The Government’s plans for Universal Credit already have brought misery to thousands of people across the country through pilot and early phases, with the continued rollout set to bring hardship and increased debt for millions of families.
http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/west-lancashire-mp-hits-out-13682982
ken
September 28, 2017 at 8:07 pm
Food bank usage doubles in year as county prepares for benefits changes
UNDER-PRESSURE county foodbanks have seen demand double in the past year and are bracing themselves for the effects of further changes to the benefits system.
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/didcot/15559124.Food_bank_usage_doubles_in_year_as_county_prepares_for_benefits_changes/
There is severe pockets of hardship/unemployment in commuter towns in what councils say are low unemployment areas and under Conservative Control.However when the figures are examined often unemployment has actually risen in these areas’ with those claiming out of work benefits.
Buckinghamshire is another example where such problems exist including notoriously Aylesbury Vale’s 23.9% rise which was the 18th highest of all 380 authority districts in 2017 home to Swanbourne House at Buckingham,recorded a 32.1% increase.interestingly also is the the town of Aylesbury Buckinghamshire the nearest to the Prime ministers country retreat at Chequers which also has an underlying unemployment problem which has continued for some considerable period of time.
https://www.channel4.com/news/welfare-to-work-firm-a4e-failing-where-jobs-are-plentiful
Both People Plus and Maximus later abandoned the town and moved to High Wycombe and Milton Keynes respectively.
ken
September 28, 2017 at 8:42 pm
Prime ministers comments on Uber ban.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41431847
“At a stroke of a pen, what the mayor has done is risked 40,000 jobs and of course… damaged the lives of those 3.5 million Uber users”.
Funny, she didn’t seem to have a problem when a stroke of a pen brought about the welfare reform and misery and poverty to millions, the stroke of a pen that’s now making the NHS collapse around itself, a stroke of a pen that now sees schools are underfunded, a stroke of a pen that sees the police struggle to keep order, a stroke of a pen that left prisons in complete mayhem, a stroke of a pen that saw one public sector after another go out on strike for a pay rise, a stroke of a pen that sees those in care suffering.
Its quite odd what pricks May conscience don’t you think.
Happy to take away money from others, not so happy to see it taken away from her.
doug
September 28, 2017 at 10:58 pm
An update to the one who got away with a crime, looking at her pic say’s “I’m too smart for prison, and let
me tell you I’m special.
Lavinia Woodward: Judge who spared Oxford University student jail for stabbing boyfriend investigated
Judicial Conduct Investigations Office investigating complaint against Judge Ian Pringle
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lavinia-woodward-judge-ian-pringle-investigated-oxford-student-spare-jail-stab-boyfriend-watchdog-a7973356.html
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 10:32 am
I’m too smart for prison and let me tell you I am special 🙂
Lavinia Woodwood
September 29, 2017 at 11:57 am
The funny thing is, if she is smart and gifted, she knows she will earn way more money in the states meaning the UK are highly unlikely to benefit long term.
Another consideration that even if she does not come up with it, will be told, is you never get forgotten on the internet no matter how hard you try to get things taken down. This means as soon as she hits the medical boardwalk, bingo up pops her past to tell everyone shes a possible knife wielding maniac surgeon which any hospital or private practice that houses her wont want to diminish their public image what with her having no life saving, science altering experience.
Ive already stuck a pin in it, have stored tons of data and ready to play the long game.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 5:35 pm
Tory rebellion throws Universal Credit reforms into chaos
he Government’s flagship welfare reforms have been thrown into jeopardy after 12 Conservative MPs wrote a private letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary demanding a pause in the roll-out of Universal Credit.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/28/universal-credit-roll-out-may-paused-head-rebellion-tory-mps/
ken
September 29, 2017 at 1:57 am
It’s not going to stop. the usual comment about it below.
The DWP continues to defend the plans, despite mounting opposition. A spokesperson said: “The vast majority of claimants are comfortable managing their money, and for anyone who needs extra help, we have budgeting advice and benefit advances.
“Continuing to roll-out Universal Credit in a safe and controlled way will mean many more will benefit from moving into employment.
“Universal Credit lies at the heart of our commitment to help people improve their lives and raise their incomes.
“It does that by providing additional, tailored support not available under the old benefit system, including more help for those in work so they can eventually stop claiming benefits altogether, and under Universal Credit people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the previous system.”
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 8:04 am
But how long really can the DWP keep using these same tired sound bites? Something like eight million people are supposed to be migrated from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit by 2022. (I think it’s 2022 now although the goalpost keeps moving further away as time goes on. It started at 2017 then moved to 2020, then to 2021 and now, I think, it’s currently 2022.) Eventually millions and millions of people are going to be badly affected, in one way or another, by the mess that is Universal Credit. If the government can get away with rolling this awful thing out, which it might because benefit claimants are disapproved of en masse these days, they absolutely will and not give a shit about the suffering involved. Personally, eventually, I am afraid that thing will become so bad that the public itself may turn against the policy, especially when the media realise what is going on and get behind the right side of things.
Goldfish
September 29, 2017 at 8:45 am
Another one Ken, but will this one be brought in,
Seventy-six Conservative MPs have backed calls for Theresa May to press ahead with a cap on energy prices.
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 10:49 am
Brexit: European Parliament to propose Northern Ireland stays in single market
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-northern-ireland-border-guy-verhofstadt-single-market-customs-union-european-parliament-a7972596.html
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 3:46 am
Reblogged this on Declaration Of Opinion.
Mark Catlin
September 29, 2017 at 8:01 am
Brexit could have a “potentially catastrophic” impact on the NHS, the authors of a major new report have claimed as they warned they had no confidence the Government was in a position to address the consequences.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-nhs-uk-healthcare-uk-experts-staff-shortages-eu-workers-nurses-doctors-migrant-workers-a7971911.html
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 8:17 am
‘Mentally impaired’ missing out on council tax discount
A Freedom of Information investigation carried out by money advice website MoneySavingExpert.com found huge variations in the numbers of people claiming the council tax discount across Great Britain.
To claim for a severely mentally impaired or SMI discount, the person must have been certified as having a severe mental impairment by a doctor, and be eligible for, but not necessarily receiving, at least one benefit such as attendance allowance, personal independence or disability living allowance.
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said the discount was there to protect the most vulnerable in society, and to give them more funds to adapt their homes as their condition deteriorates.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41420078
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 8:24 am
DWP SACK WORKER FOR HAVING CANCER
The question is, is this woman (or anyone else in a similar position elsewhere) going to be subsequently found fit for work – by the same DWP?!!!
Moribund
September 29, 2017 at 9:17 am
Although the woman in the above letter is 65 years old, and of pensionable age, there are many, many other younger people who have had to give up work due to illness, and then find themselves subsequently being found fit for work – as regular readers on here will clearly know!
Moribund
September 29, 2017 at 9:31 am
Moribund
This is a prime example why i told employees to ignore employers requests to join there occupational health schemes. Its as i said at the time, another form of the work capability assessment used by employers to get what they want rather than whats good for the employee.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 10:51 am
Oh, and it also plays into DWPs hands regarding benefit as there classifying her as ESA and saying she was let go for failure to attend meaning she put herself out of work.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 12:50 pm
Do as I say don’t do as I do.Its total hypocrisy.
ken
September 29, 2017 at 11:43 am
And the DWP have the cheek to call themselves “Investors in People” 🙂
Cath
September 29, 2017 at 11:47 am
And “Positive About Disabled People”. Pull the the other one 🙂
Cath
September 29, 2017 at 11:50 am
Paralysed Manchester bomb victim says her firm ‘forced her out for being disabled.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/job-forced-out-being-blown-11261788
whoknew
September 30, 2017 at 5:32 pm
viability assessment – the housing developers ducking tool
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-41429486
We’ve all seen the programs showing land earmarked for development which should have had social or affordable housing yet turns into anything but. Well this is how they do it.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 11:00 am
“Children have absolutely no idea that they are giving away the right to privacy or the ownership of their data or the material they post online,”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41429866
Funny, most adults don’t realize that either.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 11:10 am
Yes Doug, as you said the other day, people should read the DPA, but we know most don’t, what they do is wait until someone like you explains it.
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 11:24 am
Oh this is so far beyond DPA.
This is about how you can sleep walk most people into anything or to put it another way, cognitive manipulation.
Contracts, the beautiful small print is a lovely example.
Im not getting into the logistics but most people either don’t read, half read but don’t understand or read regardless of how much yet register it more as a dream than a memory.
Now i never take anything on face value so set about using one of my websites too carryout an experiment that i let all existing attenders in on so they could witnessed the process. I altered the small print and for a full year monitored the outcome. I had most people agree unknowingly to all sorts from the legal to the outright absurd.
The moral whoknew is read,keep reading until you get it and even then, start reading again as eventually the manipulator will figure out its known by to many and change the game.
DPA is just a drop in the bucket.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 12:46 pm
Doug is right. For example anybody using Windows 10 has tacitly agreed to let Microsoft do the following{
“Name and contact data. We collect your first and last name, email address, postal address, phone number, and other similar contact data.
Credentials. We collect passwords, password hints, and similar security information used for authentication and account access.
Demographic data. We collect data about you such as your age, gender, country and preferred language.
Interests and favorites. We collect data about your interests and favorites, such as the teams you follow in a sports app, the stocks you track in a finance app, or the favorite cities you add to a weather app. In addition to those you explicitly provide, your interests and favorites may also be inferred or derived from other data we collect.
Payment data. We collect data necessary to process your payment if you make purchases, such as your payment instrument number (such as a credit card number), and the security code associated with your payment instrument.
Usage data. We collect data about how you interact with our services. This includes data, such as the features you use, the items you purchase, the web pages you visit, and the search terms you enter. This also includes data about your device, including IP address, device identifiers, regional and language settings, and data about the network, operating system, browser or other software you use to connect to the services. And it also includes data about the performance of the services and any problems you experience with them.
Contacts and relationships. We collect data about your contacts and relationships if you use a Microsoft service to manage contacts, or to communicate or interact with other people or organizations.
Location data. We collect data about your location, which can be either precise or imprecise. Precise location data can be Global Position System (GPS) data, as well as data identifying nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots, we collect when you enable location-based services or features. Imprecise location data includes, for example, a location derived from your IP address or data that indicates where you are located with less precision, such as at a city or postal code level.
Content. We collect content of your files and communications when necessary to provide you with the services you use. This includes: the content of your documents, photos, music or video you upload to a Microsoft service such as OneDrive. It also includes the content of your communications sent or received using Microsoft services, such as the:
subject line and body of an email,
text or other content of an instant message,
audio and video recording of a video message, and
audio recording and transcript of a voice message you receive or a text message you dictate.
Additionally, when you contact us, such as for customer support, phone conversations or chat sessions with our representatives may be monitored and recorded. If you enter our retail stores, your image may be captured by our security cameras.”
Just by using a crappy operating system allows a private company to keep all sorts of personal data about you and track you. By using Windows 10 you automatically have agreed to let all of this happen. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Goldfish
September 29, 2017 at 2:20 pm
And google ‘safebrowsing’ Tools > Options > Security > “Block Dangerous And Deceptive Content” in Firefox and in similar menus in other browsers sends ALL your search queries to us 😀 , the google guys and gals 😀 as well as slowing your browser to a crawl 🙂
Sergey and Larry - The Google Guys
September 29, 2017 at 2:38 pm
search queries and all your browsing history 😀
Sergey and Larry - The Google Guys
September 29, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Universal Credit is ‘putting people in poverty’, charities warn
Sky News visits a foodbank in Oldham and finds many people are struggling to come to terms with the new benefit scheme.
http://news.sky.com/story/universal-credit-is-putting-people-in-poverty-charities-warn-11058468
ken
September 29, 2017 at 11:45 am
As Foodbank use in Cambridge continues to rise, we ask what can be done about the growing divide?
Cambridge Foodbank fed 5,000 last year in one of the UK’s richest cities
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/foodbank-use-cambridge-continues-rise-13691208
ken
September 29, 2017 at 11:48 am
I thought in Cambridge they had by-laws against poor people entering the City centre.
Andrew Coates
September 29, 2017 at 4:23 pm
You know the measure of homelessness and poverty is the measure of how ineffective all this governments efforts have been if we compare it to the great depression but in reverse., that protracted, elastic band effect i once spoke about.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 4:33 pm
https://www.thecanary.co/uk/2017/09/29/londons-hidden-homeless-outnumber-streets-13-1-lgbtq-people-hit-hardest/
Violet
September 29, 2017 at 2:00 pm
I don’t doubt for a second there are more homeless than recorded but it always amuses me in this type of article how the journalists knows so yet cant offer up proof of what there talking about.Surely this journalist has the proof the government need, oh no wait a minute as they slip into the comfortable shoe of colorful language such as CLAIM and MAYBE (such assured words).
If this wasn’t bad enough its hard not to question the journalists motives as they appear far to keen to promote the fact, many are LGBTQ+ (LGBTTTQQIAA). Its hard not to get the sense there saying homelessness is a terrible terrible thing (shame on you government) but we must priorities a certain community over others loosely based on a self professed claim of sexual discrimination.
Yes people, a young fit and healthy LGBTQ+ is more at risk than just a young fit and healthy heterosexual,hmm sounds like sexual discrimination to me, oh the irony.
doug
September 29, 2017 at 4:16 pm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2017/09/29/TELEMMGLPICT000142218471_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqhSyFYYMUnmgC2tNAGkgFA-xxajWwnrlt5CkSJHzyTxY.jpeg?imwidth=1400
oh dear
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Stupid old cow looks like a right forlorn miserable old wretch doesn’t she 😀
Violet
September 29, 2017 at 7:06 pm
Linky
September 29, 2017 at 9:07 pm
Here’s another one regarding UC and the halting of it.
Dame Louise Casey, who has been commissioned by successive Tory administrations to deal with social issues, said the implementation of the Universal Credit expansion should be paused as the “country is fraying at the edges”.
“It’s like jumping over a cliff,” she told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme. “Once you’ve jumped, people end up at the bottom and we don’t want that to happen.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/benefit-system-rollout-tory-mps-call-halt-government-concerns-impact-claimants-david-gauke-a7973516.html
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 5:11 pm
However ……
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 5:13 pm
The Manchester march on 1 October, – Tory party conference.
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Thousands of anti-austerity and anti-Brexit demonstrators are expected to converge.
Two separate protests in the city – organised by anti-Brexit and anti-austerity activists – are expected on Sunday with some reports suggesting that as many as 50,000 could attend.
whoknew
September 30, 2017 at 6:28 pm
The roll-out of universal credit has the potential to wreck Theresa May’s administration for good
The Government is driving the most vulnerable and chaotic, unable to cope with delays in payments or the new monthly rather than weekly regime, over a cliff-edge
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/universal-credit-has-the-potential-to-wreck-theresa-mays-administration-for-good-a7974651.html
ken
September 29, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Well us lot have been going on about even before it was officially introduced, the laws were so obvious (starting with monthly payments, their computer systems, and plenty of other thing).
But when the Eastern Daily Press and Sky News go for it, (I saw this today) we can only hope:Universal Credit is ‘putting people in poverty.
http://news.sky.com/story/universal-credit-is-putting-people-in-poverty-charities-warn-11058468
Andrew Coates
September 29, 2017 at 6:30 pm
They made sure they got what they went for.
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Benefit reassessments stopped for those most in need say’s DWP.
People suffering from the most severe health conditions or disabilities will no longer be routinely reassessed to continue receiving ESA and UC.
Coming into effect from today (29 September 2017), claimants in the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) support group and Universal Credit (UC) recipients with limited capability for work and work-related activity will no longer need to be reassessed if they:
have a severe, lifelong disability, illness or health condition
are unlikely to ever be able to move into work
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/benefit-reassessments-stopped-for-those-most-in-need
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 7:33 pm
Thank God! People who have had limbs amputated are not going to regrow them and become “work ready”. All this shite about the sick and disabled being “happier and healthier” by being in work is rubbish and many have had their lives ruined and their conditions worsened by being remorselessly pursued by the DWP trying to drive them off benefit into imaginary work that doesn’t exist.
Goldfish
September 30, 2017 at 7:49 am
Andrew Coates
September 29, 2017 at 7:34 pm
Nothing but worry and despair, I know it too, when on it.
whoknew
September 29, 2017 at 7:47 pm
How much will people have to endure before this is brought to a halt?
Andrew Coates
September 29, 2017 at 8:56 pm
Wakey, wakey! There is a great big shit-storm out there. It is called Universal Credit.
From the BBC News at Ten
“Claimants are waiting an average of 16 weeks to receive their first payments.” “All benefits you are already on stop when a claim is launched” Eastern Landlords “Evictions are going through the roof”. John who now lives in a shelter since he began claiming universal credit has has been turned down for private accommodation 58 times. Gary hasn’t been so lucky, Universal Credit has made him homeless and he now lives in a tent by the canal.
Coffee
September 29, 2017 at 9:19 pm
What ever happened to ‘transitional protection’? This would put an end to the queues at foodbanks and the soaring number of evictions that universal credit is causing. It is not beyond the wit of the DWP since it has always been part of the benefit system since year dot to prevent the utter misery and hardship that universal credit is causing and set to continue causing but on an even greater scale. Transitional protection and an end to the ‘built-in delay’ would put a stop to starvation and mass homelessness that universal credit is bringing on. A cynic would think that universal credit had been set up DELIBERATELY and with the express purpose of putting human beings onto the street.
And on a side note: where are the Labour Party on this? Discussing whether or not ‘party members’ should be allowed to question the Holocaust. As horrific as it was, what bearing does the Holocaust have on 21st century Britain which is under a more hidden and cunning Holocaust of its own just without the jackboots because that would make it too obvious. At least the Nazis had the ‘decency’ to give their victims a quick death unlike the long, drawn-out cruel and barbaric suffering we see in the UK.
Green Tea
September 29, 2017 at 11:21 pm
This universal credit horseshit needs to be stopped in it’s tracks before it claims any more victims.
Universal Cruelty
September 30, 2017 at 8:09 am
Rachael Bletchly: Nurses are driven to despair by NHS cuts and staff shortages but Theresa May doesn’t care
we need a new Prime Minister and Health Secretary.
whoknew
September 30, 2017 at 6:17 pm
GAADEK JAAMIT
Black Credit
September 30, 2017 at 11:43 pm
http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2017/09/30/labour-will-rethink-social-security-policy-after-conference-vote/
‘A shadow cabinet member has supported calls by party members for Labour to come up with a stronger policy on reversing government cuts to social security spending.
Debbie Abrahams spoke out after Labour’s annual conference in Brighton voted overwhelmingly to ask the party’s policy-making machinery to reconsider its approach to reversing the government’s latest cuts to benefits.
In this year’s general election manifesto, Labour pledged to reverse some of the government’s latest cuts to social security, but there was frustration among many activists that it failed to go further.’
“The manifesto committed £2 billion a year towards “fixing” universal credit and other elements of social security policy, scrapping the bedroom tax and reversing the cuts of £30 a week for new claimants placed in the employment and support allowance work-related activity group.
The Labour manifesto also pledged to repeal new regulations that will make it harder for people with mental health problems to claim the mobility component of personal independence payment, and promised other measures such as scrapping the work capability and PIP assessments.
But there was no manifesto commitment to scrapping the benefit cap – although Labour has since suggested it would remove it, after a court ruled that imposing the cap on lone parents with children under two was unlawful and discriminatory – or the continuing freeze on many working-age benefits, which will take billions more out of the social security budget.
But an overwhelming vote at this week’s conference in Brighton called on the party to be more explicit in its opposition to all the cuts currently being implemented, and to promise to reverse them.
Debbie Abrahams told Disability News Service: “I welcome what conference had to say. It is up to the National Policy Forum now.
“It will be reviewed and I am sure and I hope the shadow Treasury team will be listening to what the members had to say.”
And she said she was sympathetic to what party members had called for in the vote.
She had earlier told a fringe meeting that the party would have to go through each of the government’s cuts “line by line”.
She said she would pressure Labour’s Treasury team to reverse government cuts to social security and “will keep fighting to make sure that disabled people are not in the dire circumstances that they have been]over the last seven years”.
Source: Labour conference: Vote means party must rethink approach to social security cuts
Andrew Coates
September 30, 2017 at 11:11 am
Same old Labour. Same old shit. Labour and Debbie Abrahams don’t a flying sausage about the victims of universal credit. Behind closed doors they are probably cheering it on. Fuckers!
Same. Old. Shit. Labour.
September 30, 2017 at 7:24 pm
Why doesn’t Labour not just merge with the Tories and be done with it. It is two cheeks of the same arse!
Same. Old. Shit. Labour.
September 30, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Here’s what needs to be done viz., Universal Credit:
1. Get rid of the waiting period and pay claims immediately without the six-week hiatus.
2. Scrap monthly payments and move back to weekly/fortnightly payments.
2. Scrap most of the conditionality requirements and get rid of the draconian sanctions regime.
3. Allow separate claimants living in the same households to claim and be paid separately.
4. Stop Local Authorities from charging Council Tax to claimants.
5. Move away from a digital system to a hybrid digital/personal system which supports all claimants.
5. Pay Housing Benefit/LHA directly to landlords.
6. Scrap the meaningless 35-hour work search rule.
7. Make the taper on earnings much more generous so that part-time work is worth doing.
8. Unfreeze and increase working-age benefits and uprate them in future in line with inflation.
Miss out on any of these and Universal Credit will still be a universal disaster.
No doubt you will be pleased to know that the Prime Minister and David Gauke are “looking into the matter” of Universal Credit as announced by Theresa May on the Andrew Marr Show this morning.
Goldfish
October 1, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Goldfish
You could have just said bin the entire welfare reform.
Seeing how your in the solving game try this
Less revenue coming in that going out. Hit businesses and they go abroad (most uk businesses are foreign owned or invested in). If we borrow, naturally with the rise of costs, both the debt and deficit continue to grow. We aren’t as innovative or as influential anymore.
So whats your thoughts here ?
doug
October 1, 2017 at 2:19 pm
@doug
Universal Credit is a pernicious and malicious system, doug, and should be wound back and reconsidered.
What would I suggest? Well as far as tax is concerned firstly tax cuts to business do not always bring in more money, doug. For example IFS analysis that the cuts that the Tories made in corporation tax, far from bringing higher revenues, actually “cost at least £16.5bn a year”, some of the losses made up by other taxes, such as the bank levy. Besides most British wealth is locked away safely in land and property, neither of which can move abroad, and so I would be looking into “wealth taxes” levied against assets which cannot be transferred abroad. Individuals and businesses can and do move abroad but neither can take their land and property with them and neither should be allowed to make money by exploiting British markets without making a fair contribution to running the country financially.
People trade with this country because they want access to our markets, services, labour etc. Large corporations are taking money out of the country, hand over fist, without fairly paying for the privilege of access to our markets tax-wise. So I would seriously be considering, preferably in concert with other foreign governments, ways to prevent business from selling goods and services to the British people without settling the tab for doing so. Also, with automation increasingly displacing people as far as earning a living goes, I would begin investigating levying tax on robotic automation and knowledge based computer systems used by companies replacing workers with such systems. The utilities made bigger profits than ever in the last financial year and have been taking the piss for years, with regulators doing next to nothing to curb them, and so a one-off windfall tax levied against them might not be a bad thing.
The Tories always like pointing out that the richest people contribute the most tax, more than ever before, to the public purse, which is true. However, considering that direct tax paid by such people as far as rates go has been reduced, both directly (income tax) and indirectly (capital gains tax and inheritance tax), the only way these people can be paying more is because their incomes have grown significantly, doubling or trebling in some case, not that they are actually being taxed more as far as tax rates are concerned. So I would most certainly be looking into expecting such very, very comfortably off people to make a bigger contribution by adjusting tax rates to take account of the massive gains in wealth the rich have benefited from in a big way even during the financial crash.
No more time now to continue now.
Driving the poor into poverty certainly isn’t the way to go where we end up with a country where the people at the bottom end up crushed and the people at the top enjoy lives of unparalleled wealth and privileged which get passed on down the generations, from parents to children whether merited or not.
Goldfish
October 1, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Here’s a whacky suggestion. Make Amazon, Google, Facebook, Apple, Starbucks and the rest of the tax-dodger PAY THEIR TAX!!
HMRC
October 1, 2017 at 5:24 pm
Goldfish
A wealth tax or as we currently call it capital tax,wont work. Still way to many ways to wiggle out of it and don’t forget, you cant double tax.The way business is done, sadly allows the space to duck and dive quite legally. You can say the same about trading import/export deals,levied public services.
You’ve got to look at the mechanism of the relation between banking, public,business and government as if this isn’t changed, no dabbling with taxes will change a thing. Basically its a three horse race and the public aren’t invited as we are the mulls.
doug
October 1, 2017 at 9:31 pm
How could the Duke of Westminster avoid paying a tax levied on his fabulous property portfolio and land he owns in London, doug? Or Tony Blair avoid some sort of tax on his mansion in Belgravia? If they sold what they owned somebody even wealthier would become owner of it and have to pay the taxes in their stead. You can’t move land or property out of the country and so I don’t see any way how the owners of assets like this could dodge such a tax.
Goldfish
October 2, 2017 at 9:33 am
Goldfish
Without data i couldn’t tell you specifically but none the less your looking at it in too simpler terms no matter how logical they come across. Paying tax in business is about profit from resale, never does the business suffer from VAT or income tax/NI. Even then, its not a matter of as soon as you make a sale, there’s the profit, now pay us, so balance your books and wam, your paying little to no tax.
doug
October 2, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Tory hypocrites want 5 year jail terms for animal cruelty crimes, yet the scum aren’t being imprisoned for the cruelty meted out to the poorest and disabled victims in Britain.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4934936/Animal-cruelty-offenders-face-five-year-jail-terms.html
Violet
September 30, 2017 at 11:59 am
RHETORIC FROM THE DARKSIDE
“Universal Credit lies at the heart of our commitment to help people improve their lives and raise their incomes. It provides additional, tailored support to help people move into work and stop claiming benefits altogether”
Oh and pop this in ““With Universal Credit, people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the old system.”
Improve their lives and raise their incomes, so having nothing isnt good enough, got to have debt to really appreciate where you are and where your going. For starters you improve lives the moment you provide benefits let alone an individual finding work and if you never had anything to begin with, that benefit would be enough to raise your income, well if your not already in debt that is.
Its hard not to see that getting you deliberately in debt day one as part of the plan. What i mean is, while on benefits, your always be paying arrears,borrowed money, so benefits never raise you to a point of saying, ive gone from 0 to 10 as a figure of speech but rather -10 to 0, then back to -10 again.
“tailored support”. Well when i think of someone tailoring my suit (old enough to remember the practice that these days seems to be reserved for the wealthy), i genuinely felt like that person was making me look all i could possibly be with a bit more on top. That’s something ive never felt on benefits and if anything reminds me of the army when first making a claim, “stand here,arms out, go over there, combats thrown at me. Then when claiming makes me feel like ive been bundled into a cell, held face down, straight jacket applied and told, if you behave,follow our rules, you might get to go outside for some air for an hour once a day.
The only honest part of that paragraph DWP gave was, “stop claiming benefits altogether”, i needn’t expand on that.
“moving into work faster”, i will bite so how many claimants claiming UC for the first time who don’t have monies prior, move into work prior to their wait of 6 weeks or more actually got work without being in debt, do DWP have a statistic for this ?
“staying in work longer than under the old system”. I personally don’t see how UC changes the fact that, being in work is actually the remit of an employer, work isn’t some luxury you can just pull off a shelf for free at will unless of course DWP is insisting there’s no such thing as applying for work,interviews and lets not forget contracts of employment.
doug
September 30, 2017 at 1:23 pm
Ive got a little funtime for people and no, you cant say neither.
If you had to vote Trump or universal credit,
which would you vote for even begrudgingly.
doug
September 30, 2017 at 1:28 pm
Couldn’t ever vote for Trump. Universal Credit is a national disaster; Trump is a global disaster.
Goldfish
September 30, 2017 at 2:54 pm
Whole Foods sparks outrage with sign telling customers not to give money to homeless people.
Whole Foods has sparked outrage after putting up a sign asking customers not to give money or food to homeless people outside a store in London.
The organic food store reportedly placed the signs on tills inside the shop in Stoke Newington stating: “Giving money or food to people outside our store is encouraging theft, aggressive behaviour and substance abuse.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/whole-foods-store-puts-up-sign-telling-customers-not-to-give-money-to-homeless-people-a7975216.html
whoknew
September 30, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Its easy to be divided, to be cast when often the persuasion is not of our design.
Whole foods ironically learnt this.
doug
October 1, 2017 at 2:09 pm
Boris Johnson wants to be PM.
However he calls for a rise in the minimum wage wait for it. …….
But – the UK could fund a rise for some workers by making others redundant, so reducing the overall number of civil servants to make savings.
With unions threatening to strike over public sector pay, Mr Johnson suggested you could increase the wages of one group of people by laying other people off.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-conference-boris-johnson-minimum-wage-brexit-theresa-may-a7975236.html
whoknew
September 30, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Andrew Coates
September 30, 2017 at 9:31 pm
Yet again i love some of the comments made by the public.
Lizi4 somehow thinks 11.5k tax allowance is a staggeringly different reward to the amount of 6k under New Labour. I have shown enough times how raising a figure does not imply a benefit, how many factors contribute. Without going full metal Lizi4 forgot or elected to forget, vat rose under the Tories by 2.5% at a time the tax allowance rose by about a £1000 from the the previous 6k under New Labour. Further more Lizi4 seems to think a pound back in say 2008 is the same as 2017, that the cost of things hasn’t gone up,etc,etc.
How is it an idiot like this has a job, how can she defy evidence after evidence that proves people are worse off now than they were pre 2007.
doug
October 1, 2017 at 1:47 pm
!Gaadek Jaamati!
Black Credit
September 30, 2017 at 11:40 pm
The on going call for UC to come to a halt
Scotland calls for halt on universal credit
Gauke has said that he will make a decision about the speed of the rollout imminently. However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been bullish about the programme, stating that those struggling can receive and are being given advance payments and bespoke claim plans.
The DUP’s reaction is another blow. The party has pledged to back May’s government only in certain key areas, which do not include welfare. Sammy Wilson, the party’s welfare spokesman in Westminster, said: “First of all, we thought it was a good idea that benefits should be rolled into one payment – it is less confusing for applicants. I know from my own constituency that a lot of people wouldn’t have even known what they qualified for because of the myriad benefits.
The DWP continue with the the same nonsense.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/30/universal-credit-scotland-welfare-reform
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 8:29 am
Since the Labour conf the Tories are doing the obvious in their conf.
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 8:39 am
Many more people will suffer as a result of this.
NHS privatisation exposed: Scale of treatment for paying patients at NHS hospitals revealed
There is now growing concern that the NHS is involved in far more private work than previously thought, as much of it is masked from official records by complex operating arrangements with big private-sector health corporations which cream off profits.
“We are seeing a blurring of the boundaries between the NHS and these US healthcare subsidiaries.”
Ms Harrington said the new system was effectively the end of the NHS created nearly 70 years ago,
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-privatisation-health-service-exposed-private-cancer-patients-hospitals-treatment-work-government-a7974096.html
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 9:21 am
Nice to see at last that mainstream media has taken the time to cover an already realized fact, the ever creeping privatization of the NHS, a mantle that was a pity, they hadn’t taken to the moment Cameron made a bold claim on air that he was not privatizing the NHS during his attempts to re-election despite most contracts being tendered out to the private for profit sector.
Why do you think no matter the wide public support to pay a bit more taxes towards the NHS, this government not only turned it down, but completely ignore and don’t speak of it.
The public and not just in this sector are slowly over the years of Tory reign, being pushed into a corner they wont like. A corner that says, see, without privatization, these things cannot exist,cannot remain the same.
doug
October 1, 2017 at 1:02 pm
Gov as usual taking away thousands, less and less support until zero.
‘Kinship carers’ denied thousands of pounds over two-child cap
Campaigners call for change to rules as people are denied tax credits for their own children after caring for young relatives
Ministers promised kinship carers a year ago they would not be subject to the two-child policy after a defeat over the issue in the House of Lords. However, it has emerged that the exemption only applies to carers who have birth children first and then become guardian to a third child – not the other way around.
Melanie Onn, Labour MP for Great Grimsby, said it was unjust that kinship carers who had made great personal sacrifices to care for relatives – and saved the state hundreds of thousands of pounds in fostering costs – were refused financial support.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/01/kinship-carers-denied-thousands-of-pounds-over-two-child-cap
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Theresa May tried to attack Labour on the economy and it backfired spectacularly
And the Prime Minister revealed she doesn’t know what the average UK salary is, getting the figure wrong by more than £1,000 a year.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-tried-attack-labour-economy-11268745
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 4:54 pm
Councils at it again.
parking meters make £650,000 in three years – giving no change.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-41387429
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 4:57 pm
Universal credit rollout going ahead as planned, David Gauke suggests
Work and pensions secretary hinted there would be no implementation delays during appearance at Tory conference fringe event
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/oct/01/david-gauke-universal-credit-rollout-will-go-ahead
ken
October 1, 2017 at 5:05 pm
It’s obvious Gauke and others don’t care what happens to people during that long wait, the excuse “get into debt”
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Everybody getting an “advance” when claiming Universal Credit go into debt to the DWP, because the “advance” is actually a loan which has to be paid back later out of already meagre benefits when you get them. Universal Credit puts the poorest and most vulnerable claimants into debt by design.
Goldfish
October 2, 2017 at 9:29 am
He’s saying debt is the solution,
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 5:36 pm
Need the money for the public sector pay rises dont they
doug
October 1, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Firefighters attacked by Spanish police as they form human shield to protect voters.
A lot worse than here, at the moment at least.
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 6:03 pm
Meanwhile here in the UK “protesters are fascists”, says a Tory/tories, .they would though wouldn’t they.
whoknew
October 1, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Age preferred still seems to be a barrier out there.Their age retirement is rather less then what its supposed to be.
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Home-Guard-LTD/jobs/Picker-Packer-1392f2b88117a633?q=warehouse
ken
October 1, 2017 at 8:38 pm
GAADEK JAAMIT
Macron Heights
October 1, 2017 at 10:15 pm
Universal Credit only seems to exist for people hand-selected by the Jobcentre . Ipswich Marxist Andrew Coates knows about it but can’t claim, despite his attempts to get online.
But the unemployed, sick and disabled – Universal Credit is for them.
Andrew Coates’s theory is that Universal Credit is not a benefit that “doesn’t exist”, but is a benefit “that almost existed. The real Iain Duncan Smith was the love-child of the Director of the Centre for Social Justice who wanted to introduce Universal Credit, but he mysteriously disappeared, at the same time Iain Duncan Smith was elected to Parliament.
The proposal to introduce Universal Credit was rejected by a single vote, meaning it was almost approved, but now Andrew Coates wonders: “Maybe certain parts of Universal Credit’s design – the six week ‘waiting period’ for one – were were unstable. Maybe that particular period, back during Iain Duncan Smith’s time at the Centre for Social Justice, had been critical. Maybe it had never completely ‘jelled’.”
Now, that alternative timeline is taking over. Universal Credit is suddenly on the .gov website, and everyone says it has always existed.
Electric Dream
October 1, 2017 at 11:23 pm
Those I’ve spoken to have later found out they should not have been on it on the first place.Their idea of making work pay is we don’t pay you.That won’t work becase simply it isn’t that easy.But when your to the manor born that isn’t a problem either.
Universal Credit to roll out nationwide despite Tory rebellion, Work and Pensions Secretary confirms
Tory MPs have written to David Gauke over concerns vulnerable people may have to wait up to six weeks while their claims are processed
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/david-gauke-universal-credit-benefits-tory-rebellion-conference-a7976716.html
ken
October 2, 2017 at 1:51 am
Andy Burnham calls on government to tackle homelessness as Tory conference gets underway
He called on the Tories to pay attention to the figures ‘huddled in doorways’ across the city
Andy Burnham has called on the Conservatives to wake up to Greater Manchester’s homelessness crisis while in the city for conference.
The region’s mayor told ITV’s Peston on Sunday that government had become so preoccupied with Brexit and a potential leadership race that it had taken its eye off the country’s domestic policy.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/andy-burnham-calls-government-tackle-13701997
Its clear to see where their world is.
https://www.conservativehome.com/
ken
October 2, 2017 at 1:57 am
Heidi Allen Tory MP makes last-ditch plea to ministers to halt Universal Credit rollout
She appealed to the Prime Minister to stick to the principles she outlined in the first speech of her premiership, adding: “She showed to me a really clear understanding of people who are struggling to make ends meet and she said very clearly, ‘Every decision I make will be for you’ and these are the people we are talking about
She tried
Mr Gauke said he hoped that by the autumn 2018 all new claimants would be on the new benefit and the Government would begin to convert longer term clamaints.
whoknew
October 2, 2017 at 9:09 am
Conservative party conference: Tory MP makes last-ditch plea to ministers to halt Universal Credit rollout
Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke has said he will press on with the controversial reforms despite Tory opposition
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-rollout-heidi-allen-tory-mp-plea-ministers-work-and-pensions-committee-benefits-a7978011.html
ken
October 2, 2017 at 9:12 am
“We need to roll out Universal Credit.”
Our PM was quoted as saying on the Andrew Marrs show. We need to is a very telling way to start that sentence leading to the suspicion our government is desperately backed into a corner financially so is once again entering the dipping pool of public expenditure known as welfare. Do remember they made this decision prior to conceding in part to pressure on a raise to public service wages.
A further admission from Gauke, that he hoped that by the autumn 2018 all new claimants would be on the new benefit and the Government would begin to convert longer term claimants fuels the mystery still further as according to DWP staff, when an office is converted, all claimants including existing legacy claimants will be made to cross over all at the same time. Is it possible this admission by Gauke is his parties way of limiting the visual impact that would have been witnessed as they cant hide that from the public regardless of the party they vote for.
All this coupled with one large organization after another stating over the year this is a very bad idea smells like government are really desperate.
doug
October 2, 2017 at 9:23 am
The government is desperate, doug. A lot of hypothetical savings in public spending were supposed to come from cutting welfare spending and getting people into work. In fact welfare spending is still rising and a lot of the people in work aren’t earning enough to pay any tax. Hence, I suppose, the reluctance to slow the roll-out of Universal Credit which is much less generous to both the working and non-working alike than legacy benefits: if Universal Credit actually slows the increase in welfare spending it does so by taking away money currently paid out to support the poor and the needy, both in and out of work.
The government are in deep shit.
You cannot eliminate the deficit by beating down the poor with a bigger and bigger stick.
Goldfish
October 2, 2017 at 9:41 am
Why the new Tory ‘help’ for thousands of people on Universal Credit benefits isn’t quite what it seems
Households being switched onto Universal Credit can now get a same-day advance on their benefits in a Tory climbdown. But it’s not all good news
Cash-strapped families left without benefits will get same-day money after Theresa May bowed to pressure over her flagship welfare overhaul.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Debbie Abrahams said: “It is an insult to those being pushed into debt and rent arrears by this Government’s punitive six week wait policy that the Work and Pensions Secretary is suggesting they get another loan to make ends meet.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/new-tory-help-thousands-people-11274222
whoknew
October 2, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Ah! Don’t be deceived. What they’re talking about is an “advance” not a quicker payment: an “advance” is actually a loan which has to be paid back later out of already too low Universal Credit entitlements. So the poorest and the most desperate are, firstly, put into debt by getting an “advance” and, secondly, made poorer than they should be when on Universal Credit because the money received in the “advance” has to be paid back from deductions made to Universal Credit entitlements BEFORE claimants get them (like the Bedroom Tax) significantly reducing the amount of money which claimants have to live on until the debt is fully paid off.
Universal Credit is evil in concept and damaging in effect.
Don’t drink the DWP’s Kool-aid.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/apply/get-advance-payment/
Goldfish
October 2, 2017 at 2:59 pm
Yeah, don’t drink the DWP Kool-Aid 😉
Jim Jones of the Jonestown Massacre
October 2, 2017 at 4:30 pm
Top British companies help themselves to £44 billion profits but refuse to pay workers a proper living wage, and most prop up the tory party to let them get away with it.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/top-british-companies-help-themselves-11271770
Violet
October 2, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Universal credit: why is it a problem and can the system be fixed?
The government says it is rolling out its new benefits scheme – but critics say it is seriously flawed and increases rent arrears
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/02/universal-credit-why-problem-can-benefits-system-be-fixed
ken
October 2, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Unemployed young people in Glasgow should “get on their bikes” and join “gorgeous EU women” working in English farms, a Tory MP has declared.
In an echo of Norman Tebbit’s infamous rejoiner to mass unemployment in the 1980s Craig Mackinlay MP told a fringe event at the Conservative conference that young Scots should in future fill the jobs vacated by temporary European workers after Brexit.
He said: “I was struggling to think why wouldn’t a youngster from Glasgow without a job come down to the south to work for a farm for the summer with loads of gorgeous EU women working there?” Mackinlay said on Monday at a fringe event.
“What’s not to like? Get on your bike and find a job.”
The South Thanet MP said that after Brexit British people should have the same attitude to finding work across the UK as low-skilled workers do from elsewhere in Europe.
“We need to mobilise our core of unemployed to say there is a job there for me, let’s go and get it just as the very well motivated Bucharest youngster gets a coach across Europe to find a job,” he said.
Mackinlay held on to the seat that he won in 2015 by narrowly defeating then-UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
But controversy raged over the contest he was charged shortly before this summer’s election, with a trial set to take place in May 2018.
Labour MSP James Kelly said: “These are abhorrent and offensive comments that once again prove the Tories are the same old nasty party.
“The Tories’ reckless Brexit will hurt our economy and damage the life chances of people in Scotland and across the UK.”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/tory-mp-says-young-people-11275484
On Yer Bike
October 2, 2017 at 4:50 pm
And the answer is that farm labourers coming from poorer countries in Easter Europe work all the hours God sends to save/send money home, where it buys much more, and end up better off at the end of the day, whereas British workers stay in Britain, where British money buys much less, and so don’t end up much better off by offering themselves as migrant labour after accommodation, food and other expenses are deducted from their pay.
Based on what I’ve seen in the fields the women, wherever they come from, aren’t that “gorgeous” either.
(If they were they probably wouldn’t be farm labourers would they?)
Goldfish
October 3, 2017 at 6:59 am
What’s being done with your DNA?.
sharing users’ DNA data with non-profit, business or government “collaborators”, some of whom pay for the information. .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41470581
whoknew
October 3, 2017 at 8:53 am