Lib Dems outline yellow card system for benefits The Liberal Democrats have announced they would introduce a ‘yellow card’ system for benefit sanctions if they come to power. Party members yesterday backed a policy motion at their conference in Glasgow calling for a softer approach to benefit sanctions, allowing asylum seekers to claim benefits and a review of the slow implementation of Universal Credit. Steve Webb, pensions minister and the Liberal Democrat representative in the Department for Work and Pensions, outlined plans for a softer-touch ‘yellow card system’ for benefit sanctions but pledged support for the coalition government’s universal credit regime. Under the proposed ‘yellow card’ system claimants would be first warned and only have benefits stopped for a ‘knowing and deliberate further breach of the rules’. The Liberal Democrats also promised not to ‘balance the budget on the backs of the poor’ and attacked Tory proposals to make further sweeping welfare cuts in the next Parliament. Mr Webb criticsed Conservative plans to reduce the overall cap on household benefits from £26,000 to £23,000 per year. Mr Webb, addressing party members, said: ‘We have had to make difficult decisions during this Parliament to reduce the rate of growth of benefits spending. ‘But as we go forward with deficit reduction we are clear that it is time now for those with the broadest shoulders to bear the biggest burden. ‘We heard of plans to cut the welfare cap to a level which will make more areas of London no-go areas for poor families unless they can get a council house. ‘And most of all we heard that whilst the Tories can find money to cut the income tax bills of people on double the national average wage, their first port of call for savings was a two-year freeze on the incomes of the poorest people in the land. Colleagues, I can tell you that this is not the Liberal Democrat way.’ His comments follow colleague Stephen Williams telling Inside Housing the party would resist Tory plans to cut benefits for the poorest in a future coalition. Mr Webb made no mention of the bedroom tax in his speech, despite voting in favour of a private members bill which suggested reforming it in Parliament last month. Mr Webb’s comments came as party leader Nick Clegg vowed not to reduce the deficit by ‘beating up on the poor’ and attacked his coalition partners for plans to freeze benefits and not raise taxes for richest. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat business Secretary Vince Cable is to announce plans to increase the pay of lowest-paid apprentices by £1.06 an hour. The move is reported to be backed by the Conservatives and could be implemented as soon as October next year. Also in: Liberal Democrats To Propose Housing Investment Bank Lib Dems will resist Tory under 21 benefit axe plan Lib Dems outline yellow card system for benefits Lib Dem garden cities plan needs vital infrastructure Cable: Lib Dems would allow councils to suspend the right to buy Green belt must be build on to solve housing crisis Treasury considering becoming a commissioner of housing Readers comments (9) James Kent | 06/10/2014 10:23 am Unbelievable ! Where have these characters been for the past 5 years Answer : They have fully aided and abetted the tories in attacking the British poor non stop , by rushing through severe leglislation to impose Billions of pounds of cuts onto the poor. They have also joined in with the tories in threatening and attacking the 7 million residents of social housing by diminishing 100 years of social housing rights created by Parliament to protect these citizens. Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment PhilH | 06/10/2014 11:22 am I can tell you that this is not the Liberal Democrat way.’ surely it has been for the last four plus years. why not show a bit of moral fibre and pull the plug now if you feel you have been misused so much by the tories. Nick knows he will never get another chance of power and never deserve one so will cling on to his masters coat tails as long as he can. meanwhile we must listen to this drivel Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment SER YEK SER YEK | 06/10/2014 12:25 pm They had their chance, showed their true colour now trying to distance themselves from the result. Nothing new just typical politicos. Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment Judith Martin | 06/10/2014 12:29 pm Either theyre relying on everyone having very short memories, or else being so enraged at the other parties that some of us, at least, hang on to the Lib Dems. Step up, Natalie Bennett - but its still a gamble, at least in old Lib Dem seats. Gratifying to hear the vox pops saying only if Clegg goes but Id add Alexander, Laws - all the old Orange Book mob who forged this unspeakable alliance that has done such harm so unthinkingly. Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment PhilH | 06/10/2014 12:43 pm problem is Jude people do have short memories or in some cases the local lib dem MP is very good at local issues. as Daedelus says elsewhere there is still a good chance that libdems will hold the balance at the next election. they will need a major cull to be accepted by either main party to be palatable though. I repeat - if they are so outraged they should go now and leave Cameron hanging as the lame duck he is. a winter election would liven things up Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment ManWithAbacus ManWithAbacus | 06/10/2014 2:08 pm Stop all the yakking... cut HAs & get cracking! Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment penny king | 06/10/2014 2:58 pm Sadly I think the lib dems have lost a lot of credibility during their coalition and however sincere their plans are, we now have no way of knowing if they are based on what they think the electorate will vote for or if they are actually ethically driven. This goes for the labour party too. I agree with the comment above re Natalie Bennett; look closely at the Green party policies and they are the only party who are clear, who set out their stall and who seem to be committed to good old socialist policies. Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment Michael Weipert | 06/10/2014 3:28 pm They have showed that when the time has come to stand they are truly yellow and are now trying to deny their hubristic collaboration with the tories. They are truly yellow to the core and like all cowards now wish to weedle out of their part in allowing a profound cruelty to take hold in this country. They deserve the fate of all collaborators. Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment BlokeWithAConscience BlokeWithAConscience | 06/10/2014 5:19 pm Too late LibDems - you will go down in history as the party that shored up the governments attacks on the poor. insidehousing.co.uk/regulation/lib-dems-outline-yellow-card-system-for-benefits/7006085.article
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:52:18 +0000
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