News
Cameron Outlines Conservative Hopes for Slashes to Welfare System
 |
June 25, 2012 The Fresh Outlook  |
David Cameron calls for cuts and debates on the current state of the UK’s “something for nothing” welfare and benefit system.
Mr Cameron recently said that the existing welfare system was sending out “strange signals” on working, housing and families, in an interview in the Mail on Sunday. The prime minister claimed there is a damaging and divisive gap in Britain between those using the privileges of the welfare system and those who are resentfully paying tax and struggling outside of it.
In a speech today, Mr Cameron will outline plans for benefit reform for people with large families: “We have been encouraging working-age people to have children and not work, when we should be enabling working-age people to work and have children. So it’s time we asked some serious questions about the signals we send out through the benefits system.”
One of the more controversial plans is to cut housing benefit for those under 25. Mr Cameron will say: “For literally millions, the passage to independence is several years living in their childhood bedroom as they save up to move out; while for many others, it’s a trip to the council where they can get housing benefit at 18 or 19 – even if they’re not actively seeking work.”
With recent accusations that the Liberal Democrats have watered down the Conservative party’s traditional values, Mr Cameron’s speech will likey be seen as the end of ‘compassionate conservatism’. Most of Mr Cameron’s outlined ideas are not for the current coalition government, but for the next Conservative manifesto.
By Sarah Leyland
[Image courtesy of
