Former cabinet minister James Purnell has slammed Conservative welfare policy by specifically rebutting each of the points made by Conservatives.

Writing on Open Left he said Tory plans were, “so full of holes, that the Tories are clearly hoping that the press will have moved on by the time anyone notices.”

He proceeded to point out some holes:

1. We will simplify Labour’s numerous and piecemeal programmes into one single back-to-work programme for everyone on out of work benefits.

This would be a good idea if they were proposing to do it. Indeed, it’s government policy – with the Flexible New Deal bringing previous New Deals in to one and the December 2008 White Paper proposing the same for IB and lone parents. But the press release then goes to on to add back in Youth Action for Work, Work Pairings, Work for Yourself, Work Together, Work Clubs. So, seven programmes, not one. Moreover, these seem to have a lot of the features (especially centralized design) of the original New Deal which the Tories say failed.

…

3. We will abolish the Treasury’s rule that prevents the Government paying work providers using the benefits saved once someone has a job. This will allow us to offer support to the 2.6 million people on Incapacity Benefit.

There is no such rule. The question is whether there is appetite to lend.

4. We will offer greater support to the young unemployed by referring them on to the Work Programme after 6 months of unemployment compared to a year under the Flexible New Deal.

This is misleading. Young unemployed people already get this support at 6 months – the only differences are that it’s currently delivered by Job Centres and the Tories have tinkered with the options claimants get (at the moment, the options are employment subsidies, self employment, training and volunteering).

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5. Conservatives: have they changed? « Freethinking Economist

   [...] of cross-party agreement (despite a rather melodramatic take from LibCon that Purnell is ‘slamming‘ the welfare reforms – ‘quibbling’ more like).  But the grassroots [...]

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