So what now, Yvette?
Peter Hoskin 5:05pm
Aside from the failure of other ministers to follow his lead, one of the saddest aspects to James Purnell's resignation is that the DWP has lost an extremely capable minister. Yes, I know he's not a particular favourite of CoffeeHousers - but he was instrumental in getting David Freud's welfare reform agenda accepted as government policy, and even hired Freud as an adviser. Before Freud's defection to the Tories, all signs were that the duo would push through some of the radical measures that the country requires as both job queues and welfare bills soar.
But now Purnell's gone, one of the questions swirling around the Westminster policy arena is what the appointment of Yvette Cooper will mean for welfare reform. The signs aren't particularly clear. One line of thought is that welfare reform is now too much of a consensus issue for the Government to dilute it; another is that Brown might cede to union pressure, and use the opportunity to row back on Purnell's plans. So far, Cooper hasn't said anything conclusive on the issue.
It's noteworthy, then, that the Tories - via Cooper's opposite number, Theresa May - have decided to put a series of ten questions to the Work and Pensions Secretary; some asking about policy, some trying to expose a few Brownies. Here's the full list:
While I'm not so sure about the direction of some of the questions (number 6, in particular, is unhelpfully emotive), the medium is just as interesting as the message. Just imagine if the Tories put out a set of ten simple questions on, say, the public finances ("Does real-terms public spending increase or decrease from 2011 onwards?" etc.) to show up Brown even more on the "Tory cuts" issue. Sure, they may not get a response - as they probably won't get a response from Cooper - but they will have pushed the debate that little bit further into the public eye.1) James Purnell promised a moratorium on Jobcentre Closures and then proceeded to close three more Jobcentres in London. Will you promise not to close any more Jobcentres during the recession?
2) Will you finally agree to Conservative proposals to relax the rules on Jobseeker's Allowance to allow people who have been made unemployed retrain immediately instead of waiting for up to 6 months?3) Will you confirm that the Government plans to shut down its flagship employment programme, the New Deal across half the country this summer?
4) Contracts for the Flexible New Deal, due to replace the original New Deals this October have been delayed repeatedly, will you confirm when the contracts will be awarded?
5) Will you confirm that Flexible New Deal will be fully operational in all phase 1 areas by 5th October?
6) Will you drop the Government's plans to force lone parents with children as young as 1 to undertake activities to prepare for work under the threat of benefit sanctions?
7) Will you extend proper back to work programmes to people already claiming Incapacity Benefits instead of just one interview?
8) Will you confirm that Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance claims are now rising, and the Government is on track to miss its target to reduce IB/ESA claims by 1 million by 2015?
9) Will you confirm that the Government is on track to miss it's target to reduce child poverty by half by 2010 and that the 2009 Budget did nothing to help tackle child poverty?
10) Will you confirm that youth unemployment is higher than when labour came to power?
Previous
THX1138
June 11th, 2009 5:22pm Report this commentOff message but I don't care Little Osborne has been "flipping"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6474725.ece
Labour are so over, who cares what Yvette Copper or James Purnell or any of the other has beens get up to anymore?
We need to start scrutinizing the next lot.
luke
June 11th, 2009 5:53pm Report this commentWhy do you want to condemn single parents to years on benefits needing to do nothing to prepare for work?
Its the worst kind of fate for them and their children. All we are talking about is a few hours each week doing training, keeping in touch with the world of work. And we know (from the Freud evidence you apparently love so much) that it has enormous benefits in helping people go back to work when their children are older.
Silent Hunter
June 11th, 2009 6:17pm Report this commentSo what now Yvette?
Er?
Carry on fiddling the expenses.
Bruce Robertson
June 11th, 2009 6:20pm Report this commentI certainly hope the "its" possessive in point 9 wasn't submitted with an apostrophe.
Vulture
June 11th, 2009 6:35pm Report this comment@THXII38 -. Absolutely right.
Oiky Osborne should have been sacked over the Greek cruise affair. But Dave would never lose his bestest chum. The Cameron clique - Maude, Duncan, et al - make the Tory brand look spivvy. Hague is the best the Conservatives have got. Shame he gave up being leader - his demolition of 'Archbishop' Mandelson was devastating, and witty too.. Dave can't do wit.
mac
June 11th, 2009 6:40pm Report this comment"So far, Cooper hasn't said anything conclusive on the issue."
Oh, but she will, she will, once she's been told what Gordon wants. Sorry, I mean once she's brought to bear what Martin Bright has termed her "giant intellect".
Then, courtesy of the cast of ever-helpful BBC interviewers, we'll be treated to La Cooper's characteristic breathless, on-message gobbledegook. A joyous prospect . . . .
Jonathan
June 11th, 2009 6:40pm Report this commentMore to the point Peter, why doesn't Cameron use PMQ's next week to highlight Brown's public spending lie...
Question 1. Cameron with red book to hand should read out spending totals for 2011, 12 & 13. Can the PM confirm if these figures are correct?
Question 2. Again with red book to hand - Cameron should read out inflation forecasts for 2011, 12, 13. Then ask PM, if the public spending increase he has just confirmed, are enough to cover the effects of inflation.
Question 3. Ask the PM by how much Britain's debt repayments are to increase by in 2011, 12, 13; can he confirm that this extra money has to come out of the spending increase that he has announced.
Question 4. Ask PM by how much welfare (i.e. unemployment) bills are expected to rise. Again could the PM confirm that this extra money has to come out of the spending increase that he has announced.
Question 5. Add up answers to question 2,3, & 4 and ask PM to confirm that these extra calls on the public purse are greater than the spending increases that he confirmed in question 1.
Question 6. Attack GVN for trying to conceal the truth.
Of course, Brown would probably refuse to play ball, but providing Cameron has the answers himself - which he should confirm with IFS beforehand, he could skewer the PM
Pete Hoskin
June 11th, 2009 7:08pm Report this commentluke: are you addressing that question at me or Theresa May? I agree with you - single parents should be given all the support and training they need to get off benefits and into work. In my post above, I'm saying that May is being too emotive by suggesting that this approach is somehow cruel.
Battle 2807
June 11th, 2009 8:01pm Report this commentWell, we dont get an answer at PMQs: we dont get an answer in any interview (sky, bbc whatever - we dont get an answer) - so, yes, lets try this. I bet 1000/1 or whatever (not being a betting person) that we wont get an answer.
Who would be surprised? Gordon, cant you hear us? why dont you put us out of your misery? Just go.
(and dont take your pension or your peerage, but that's probably too much to hope for)
John Page
June 11th, 2009 9:58pm Report this commentThe Labour fascists intend to write legislation for future governments -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jun/11/child-poverty-bill-yvette-cooper
Yvette Cooper is to publish plans to place a legal duty on all future UK governments – including any future Tory administration – to abolish child poverty by 2020 ....
Fergus Pickering
June 12th, 2009 6:06am Report this commentJohn Page, she can't do that. The tories can just a. repeal the law or b. (much more likely) ignore it or even (hardly worth the bother) redefine child poverty. Me, I think we need MORE child poverty. Yes really. What's so dreadful about CHILD poverty? I wouldhave thought old person's poverty was much worse. After all, lefties are always on about their marvellous childhoods when they didn't have a bean buit were held together by love etc. OK, let's have more of that, then.
The Bellman
June 12th, 2009 9:40am Report this commentJohn Page: This is an example of Peter Mandelson's 'post-democratic age' in action. Democracy is, to coin THX's new favourite phrase, 'so over'.
Nicholas
June 12th, 2009 10:58am Report this comment"Why do you want to condemn single parents to years on benefits needing to do nothing to prepare for work?"
Disingenuous. If the Tories had suggested this you would be all over it like a rash. In any case it is the authoritarian and bullying aspects we don't like.
You just don't get it, Luke, people can now plainly see socialist hypocrisy. Get off the priggish, sanctimonious and moral high ground and we might able to have a debate. You people started the good vs evil polarisation of politics - you're still at it with the 10% cuts which Yvette The Terrible has been bleating about this morning - now you are reaping what you sowed and you don't like it. Enough young people complain to me about the new nasty party, and believe me, it ain't the Tories!
Until Labour supporters can accept and respect the majority Conservative viewpoint, the one demonstrated by the recent elections, without trying to demonise it or shout it down, they are doomed to alienate rather than engage. It is 2009, let's see some progression from the "progressive" party and not the sort of prehistoric, divisive, envious, spiteful, ideological crap that the old commie dinosaur Derek Simpson was spouting on QT last night.
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