Worklessness: "end the free ride" say Conservatives

A Conservative government "will tear up the old ways of dealing with worklessness" and "end the free ride for those who fail to take responsibility" according to David Cameron launching a new policy paper last week.

He pledged to introduce a new welfare contract by the end of 2010 – a single comprehensive Work Programme "offering unprecedented support for those looking for work, combined with new sanctions for anyone who refuses to work." The Conservatives, he promised, would "change the whole way welfare is done in this country so everyone takes responsibility and plays their part." Under the new welfare contract, Cameron said that people who "do the right thing" will get the backing they need. But those who fail to take responsibility will find "the free ride is over."

The elements of the Conservative programme were outlined in their manifesto and are expanded in the latest policy document. These are:

• support "as soon as they require it" for those with serious barriers to work, and after six months if under 25 years old
• access to a business mentor and start up loan for those who want to set up their own business
• business-led training places, including 50,000 places in the hospitality and leisure industry
• the introduction of ‘Work Clubs’, for people "to learn skills, find opportunities and make useful contacts"
• extra training opportunities for under 25s – 400,000 apprenticeship, training and college places over two years
• pay back-to-work providers in full only if they get a claimant into work for a year or more

The Conservatives say that, within six months of taking office, they will introduce new sanctions for anyone who "refuses to look for work". They will:

• cut the benefits of anyone on Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) who refuses to join the Work Programme;
• cut the benefits of anyone who refuses to take up reasonable job offers: the first time for one month; the second time for three months; and, the third time for up to three years;
• cut benefits for up to three years for anyone caught repeatedly committing benefit fraud.
• reassess all current claimants of IB – if you are fit for work then you will be transferred onto JSA and your benefits will be reduced; and,
• require long-term benefit claimants who fail to find work to ‘work for the dole’ on community work programmes.

The Conservatives' "New Welfare Contract" document sharply criticises the track record of Labour's programmes and draws a dividing line between the two parties converging approaches to welfare reform. Whilst the Tory plans bear significant similarities to the approach outlined in Labour's recent White Paper, the Conservatives insist that their programme is inspired by their "Big Society" principles. They say that "our plan to build the Big Society is based on a simple idea: responsibility."

That sounds rather like the New Labour mantra of 1997 - "rights and responsibilities" - which was the big idea underpinning the New Deal. Except the Conservatives have exluded "rights".

The Tories also criticise the Lib Dem policies saying they will continue "Labour’s big government approach on welfare". They say the Liberal Democrats have "no plans to reform Labour’s failing New Deals or to give any extra support to those on Incapacity Benefit to find a job" and say that "in Parliament, the Lib Dems spoke out against even timid welfare reform."

The Conservative Party document is at:
http://www.conservatives.com/News/News_s...