Clegg gets forceful over welfare
Peter Hoskin 9:12am
Enter Nick Clegg with another self-assured article for a national newspaper. A few weeks
ago, it was his defence of the coalition's Budget for the FT that caught the eye. Today, it's his case
for welfare reform in the Times (£). These may be arguments, about dependency and disincentives, that you've
heard before – but here they're packaged in a particularly clear and persuasive way. Just what's needed as the welfare wars, between Labour and the coalition, spill back into newsprint.
Writing about the article, the Times frames it as "Nick Clegg [putting] himself on a collision course with his party" – and you can see why they might think that. The tone of the piece, particularly when Clegg writes that the state must not "compensate the poor for their predicament," is more forceful than the party faithful might be used to. But I'm not sure that this represents a major shift in Lib Dem thinking. The yellow brigade went into the election promising cuts in some benefits, and their position on welfare was broadly reformist. Besides, as Clegg argues, there is something "profoundly liberal" about an approach that weens people off state handouts, where it can, and helps them make better lives for themselves.
All in all, this article reminds me of one of David Cameron's finest moments as Tory party leader: his defence of Tory welfare policy at last year's party conference in Manchester. (See from 24:05 to 28:20 in the video here, or watch that section's coda below). As conference season swings round again, these arguments are ripe for another airing.
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Robert Taggart
September 16th, 2010 11:04am Report this comment'We' (scroungers) are done for !
Cleggy and his ilk were thought to be our best defence in this government, now ?
Come on IDS, pull your finger out and give us all that single / variable benefit. The changeover will cost us dear, but, long term it be the best solution... providing that is the giros keep coming ! 'We' are actually doing this country a favour... we leave room in the jobs market for those who want to work !
alan campbell
September 16th, 2010 12:44pm Report this commentBlah blah blah welfare scroungers blah EU blah blah immigrants blah blah Muslims blah blah NuLiebore blah..
There you go Speccie posters, I've saved you all ever having to post anything ever again.
London Calling
September 16th, 2010 2:55pm Report this commentIn an article for The Times, the deputy PM says welfare should be an "engine of mobility... rather than a giant cheque written by the State to compensate the poor for their predicament" …and helps them make better lives for themselves.
The engine of mobility? Cutting welfare? How exactly do their lives get better? Does mobility express the money cut being redirected back to the Government rather than feet back to work, only the dole queue is getting longer and one isn’t mobile but stagnated under these circumstance and compassionate rhetoric is called for…is it not?
.Peter…Labour and the Coalition are not at war over benefits, that’s politics talking…the real war has already been won, those on welfare have no voice and only have charities and the unions to speak on their behalf…lets hope they can help feed and clothe those on welfare when the cuts bite. I support the Coalition, but not this.
Call me confused only …is this is the same coalition that announced yesterday that its going to restore faith back into the British domain?
I agree with a commentator on another site…the current situation is like a bad Monty Python sketch…and the Popes visit added as a prelude ….
carefix
September 17th, 2010 6:18am Report this commentThe IDS proposals are a heart NOT about a fairer system. They are about creating a single MEANS TESTED benefit. This is the major purpose of his reform and the part of them which the Treasury likes as it enables them to deprive the long term sick and disabled of their life savings, homes and pension funds and therefore represents a tremendous saving for the Treasury.
IDS also wants to give the poor a 5p per hour "bus-fare" subsidy so they can get to those imaginary jobs we hear so much about. It is this aspect of his proposals that the Treasury does not like and what the largely imagined row is all about. I have no doubt that IDS will get his means testing and that this will be announced in a mealy-mouthed kind of a way at the Spending Review. IDS will however be bought off on the extra spending required for his Marginal Tax Rates proposals with a promise of "jam tomorrow". Osbourne simply has to point out it will take years to enact his proposals whereas punishing the responsible, "NI contributions paid" disabled types can be done almost overnight and the all embracing Super Nanny State of his dreams can be brought into being in short order.
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