IDS gets into a spot of bother in the Lords
Iain Duncan Smith, (our MP in Chingford and Woodford Green and Minster of Work and Pensions) has been causing some problems in the Lords, as well as to his junior partners in the coalition as his Benefits Bill is being discussed in the House of Lords.
Their Lordships have taken exception to his benefits cap. Lord Ashdown as well as The Bishops are revolting as they plan to vote against plans for a £26,000 per annum cap of benefits as this would cause ‘unacceptable’ hardship for children.
The Tory-led government is getting itself in a muddle by using too simple slogans as a front to complex policies (this blog later will visit the alarming use of simplistic language that has become the hallmark of the PR led Tories!).
The simple aim of the bill is to ‘cap benefits so that households on out-of-work benefits did not receive more than the average weekly wage earned by working households.’ On the face of it this is a straightforward enough sentiment. However the recipients of large amounts are likely to be those with quite a few children.
The Bill leaves the way open for Councils to split up such large families and release the large properties for other use. Will it actually be cheaper to house families in two houses in different parts of the country – presumably in parts of the UK where getting a job is even harder.