Iain Duncan Smith's Disability Benefit Cuts Defeated in the House of Lords

[LeftishBrit]

Government plans to cut disability benefits for those deemed unfit for work have been defeated in the House of Lords this evening.

The proposed cut of £30 a week for people classed as unable to work but who could undertake other activities towards getting a job was suppose to remove the “perverse incentive” of staying on benefits, according to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.

Last week, more than 30 charities and three peers, including Paralympic hero Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, wrote to Mr Duncan Smith warning the proposed cut would "push sick and disabled people further away from work and closer to poverty.”


This evening, the House of Lords voted against the plan by 283 to 198....


More at link.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/01/27/disability-cuts-house-of-lords_n_9090946.html

[Denzil_DC]

1. It's not really been their day, has it? n/t

[Bad Dog]

2. It says something

When an unelected group of the political elite care more about social justice than the people's representatives. Is this another constitutional crisis?

[LeftishBrit]

3. Much more of this and the Tories will abolish the House of Lords!

One ironic point is that many people with disabilities doubtless could work, at least part-time, if they were given the support that they needed - but that would cost money, and it's easier for the government just to threaten people. And why go after those who have been already declared unfit to work? Duncan-Smith, or someone who is advising him, or both, seems to HATE disabled people.

[Bad Dog]

4. Iain Duncan Smith's house

A sprawling mansion belonging to his father in law where he lives rent free.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Duncan-Smith made his money in the good old-fashioned way

He married a woman (Betsy Fremantle) with an aristocratic background and vast inherited wealth.

At least his equally ghastly predecessor as MP, Norman Tebbit, really was self-made. Duncan-Smith's main achievement was to marry someone rich.

[Bad Dog]

6. who had no taste whatsoever.

[LeftishBrit]

7. 'It is a fact universally acknowledged...

that a single aristocratic woman in possession of a good fortune and a huge inherited mansion must be in want of a nasty ugly mean-spirited Tory politician for a husband."

[Bad Dog]

8. Since first entering the neighbourhood he probably thought it was his rightful property