Overwhelming public support for Tory welfare policies
James Forsyth 11:16pm
Fraser wrote the other day about how public attitudes seemed to be moving decisively in favour of welfare reform and new poll numbers,flagged up by Conservative Home, back up this argument. 82% back the new Tory policy that those who have been on unemployment benefits for two years should have to do work in the community if they are to continue receiving benefits. While more than three quarters of voters, 77%, thinks that unemployed people who live where they do could get work if they really wanted it.
It looks like the Tories have a new powerful weapon in their armoury. The key, now, is not to overreach in terms of language. David Cameron and Chris Grayling must strive to sound both compassionate and calm on this issue.
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Comments
ciaran
January 12th, 2008 11:48pmYou forgot to mention overwhelming public support for "if they're black, send em bck" and "hang em and flog em, it's the only language they understand"
Verity
January 13th, 2008 2:10amWeak, weak, weak. Tens of thousands of skivers on two years of free taxpayers money? Why, in the world's fifth largest economy? Money that taxpayerse have worked for and that has been taken away from them and their own families? Why give the non-productive a two-year pass? When the company in Texas I worked for decided to cut the department I was working for, next day, we were all down in the unemployment line, in shock. What we heard, was, we had 13 weeks of unemployment benefit on the state of Texas. After that, we were on our own. We were all white-faced. I asked, "But what if I can't find a job in 13 weeks?" and the officer replied, "You may have to take something under your skills, but most folks manage to get some kind of income in 13 weeks." He was right. Within 14 weeks (one scarey week with no money from the government), I found employment. It paid my bills until I found "real" employment in my own line. But the taxpayers, rightly, were not inconvienced by me for more than 13 weeks. Two years is communist redistribution of income. Socialism drains the soul. I got back into my own profession shortly thereafter, but meantime my life was financed by me, doing a job I didn't like but so what?, and not the taxpayers of Texas.
George Steiner
January 13th, 2008 3:19pmYou forget dear boy that there is no election in sight. When there will be, Brown & Co. will have its very own tough new welfare reform available. The Cameron is playing a game of tidlywinks not politics. As befits an Etonian toff.
Caroline
January 13th, 2008 4:49pmJames Forsyth's blog 'Cameron's Sunday best' is not responding to comments.
TGF UKIP
January 13th, 2008 6:14pmVerity, hear, hear ,hear, hear!
Max Kaye
January 13th, 2008 7:02pmWell spoken Verity.
J
January 14th, 2008 1:16pmThe treaties Thatcher signed mean it would be illegal to do that here Verity.