Welfare Reform and Incapacity Benefit

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:49 pm on 22 November 2005.

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Photo of Margaret Hodge Margaret Hodge Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions) (Work) 6:49, 22 November 2005

I am always delighted to put the record straight, so I am pleased that the right hon. and learned Gentleman has given me the opportunity to do so. I make many speeches about the matter and always say that during the Conservatives' 18 years in government, they allowed increasing numbers of people—up to 2.7 million—to languish on incapacity benefit, without giving those people any help or support to return them to work.

The Conservatives are informed by their lasting values, which lead them to want to slash benefits across the piece so that they can cut taxes. The Labour Government, however, are informed by the lasting values that we have consistently articulated of opportunity for all those who can, combined with security and support for all those who need it.

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Saint Swithins-Day
Posted on 5 Dec 2005 2:57 am (Report this annotation)

"The Conservatives are informed by their lasting values, which lead them to want to slash benefits across the piece so that they can cut taxes."

But Tony's leaked memo suggests reducing IB to the level of Jobseeker's Allowance.

So neither of the main parties wants anything other than for the ill to live even more impossible (live on £50 a week?), lonely (a social life on £50 a week?), hopeless (make plans for the future on £50 a week?) lives than they already do. No matter who gets in, the ill are screwed.

And why? Because the press and politicians are only too willing to fall into the "sick-note culture" line, where a sick note isn't an official document given by a medical practitioner who examines a person. No, it's been turned, through propoganda, into some kind of badge that says "this person is a lying, worthless cheat."