Ian Duncan Smith - What do you think? Sign the Petition!

[Demi]

Iain Duncan Smith: Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53 a week. Yes/No?

Sign the petition here:
http://www.change.org/en-GB/petition...e-on-53-a-week

[Mikey]

Yes, I've signed the petition already.

[FlyingJesus]

I don't see the point. It's meant to show him that it's not possible to live on £53 a week but it quite clearly is since so many people do it. Unemployment benefits are there to tide you over until you get back into work, not to act as a salary so that you don't have to

[Demi]

Yes, I've signed the petition already.

Nice one!

I don't see the point. It's meant to show him that it's not possible to live on £53 a week but it quite clearly is since so many people do it. Unemployment benefits are there to tide you over until you get back into work, not to act as a salary so that you don't have to

You have a fair point, however he claims that he could easily do it... Thing is a lot of people who do, have to find cash-in-hand jobs.

[-:Undertaker:-]

IDS is one of the few ministers in this government with any common sense, he's spot on.

It simply goes back to this; why should people working on lower wages have the same standard of living to those who aren't working and are on benefits? I find that unjust, unfair and it simply serves to encourage welfare dependency as whats the point of working when you can life fairly comfortable off the state?

[GommeInc]

I don't see the point. It's meant to show him that it's not possible to live on £53 a week but it quite clearly is since so many people do it. Unemployment benefits are there to tide you over until you get back into work, not to act as a salary so that you don't have to

Reminds me of Helen Goodman Labour MP for Bishop Auckland. She survived on £18 a week which is what she believes constituents will have after the deductions in benefits such as the bedroom "tax". It's do-able, especially when you consider they are there to tide you over until you get back to work.

For some reason, we must all have the same standard of living with luxuries, when it makes no sense to have this mentality for essentially doing nothing. It's difficult to get a job in this climate, but not too difficult that it's impossible to find a job. As long as you have the basics such as food and shelter, £56 is plenty provided you can make the necessary sacrifices.

[Demi]

IDS is one of the few ministers in this government with any common sense, he's spot on.

It simply goes back to this; why should people working on lower wages have the same standard of living to those who aren't working and are on benefits? I find that unjust, unfair and it simply serves to encourage welfare dependency as whats the point of working when you can life fairly comfortable off the state?

I do actually agree with you, but some families who cannot work etc... etc... are also penalised. With valid reasons for not being able to work (severe disabilities etc...)

Those who abuse the system, get rid, gladly get rid. Those who genuinely can't survive, that's something we need to work on.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I do actually agree with you, but some families who cannot work etc... etc... are also penalised. With valid reasons for not being able to work (severe disabilities etc...)

Those who abuse the system, get rid, gladly get rid. Those who genuinely can't survive, that's something we need to work on.

Oh yes, but then look at that aswell - the other month the government was going to test all those on disabled benefits and guess what happened a few weeks/a month before the tests were due to start? 900,000 odd people suddenly stopped claiming disability benefits.

And that's such an improvement from just means testing people. Personally i'm in favour of a voucher system being introduced.

[Demi]

Oh yes, but then look at that aswell - the other month the government was going to test all those on disabled benefits and guess what happened a few weeks/a month before the tests were due to start? 900,000 odd people suddenly stopped claiming disability benefits.

And that's such an improvement from just means testing people. Personally i'm in favour of a voucher system being introduced.

Never-the-less, I would love him to survive on that money.
Most politicians are paid TOO MUCH, their money could be used elsewhere.

[FlyingJesus]

People who can't work through disability get far far more than £53 a week (4real you can get ridonkulous amounts depending on the severity), so saying that basic unemployment benefits aren't enough because you might be off for medical reasons isn't a valid argument