Gordon’s welfare failure
Gordon Brown promised in 1998 to deliver a modern welfare state that, instead of trapping people in poverty, provided opportunity for all. Yet he has created a system that has left many more people languishing on benefit.
The former Chancellor’s legacy is clear to see; the tax credits system has cost the public almost £2 billion through overpayments, errors and fraud. 1.25 million young people aged 16-24 are not in work or full-time education. And more and more people are claiming incapacity benefits.
Incapacity is a major contributor to economic inactivity in the UK. Current figures show that there are 7.9 million adults defined as “inactive.” I have much sympathy for those who are genuinely unable to work. These people are very much entitled to claim benefits but there are so many who are on welfare and are able and want to work. It is thought that one million incapacity benefit claimants want jobs. These people must be given the confidence and help to get back in work.
With incapacity benefits costing the taxpayer more than £7 billion a year I was interested to hear that the number of long term unemployed has soared in recent years. In 1999, 1.8 million people had been on benefits for more than five years. Now the figure is 2.4 million. In Suffolk, the number has risen by 22% since 2001 from 9,310 to 11,370 this year.
Despite numerous Government pledges and initiatives, incapacity benefit remains a huge problem - not least because over time, those claiming it have less and less will or incentive to find employment. The Government have completely failed in its attempt to get to grips with helping our most vulnerable people who have been left stranded on benefits. And ultimately it is a huge financial drag on the country’s taxpayers.
P.S. Parliament is prorogued until next week, when blogging will resume.