Welfare Green Paper labelled a disgrace by Labour MPs

Today, the Government has set out its plans for 'welfare reform'. The plans reform both Jobseeker's Allowance and Incapacity Benefit (soon to become Employment Support Allowance). The proposals include punitive measures for compulsory community service for those on unemployment benefits, and a range of punitive measures for people on incapacity benefit.

John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, said

“At a time of increasing unemployment such draconian measures will not only prove counter-productive, but the requirement for forced labour and the greater harassment of disabled people is a moral disgrace.”

“Allowing the private sector to make money out of the unemployed and those on incapacity benefit is a step further than even the Governments of Thatcher or Major went. The Government has sacked 30,000 staff in DWP since 2004 and now it is giving their jobs to the private sector.”

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