Higher benefits, lower unemployment

Liberal Conspiracy is a left of centre political blog full of thought-provoking articles. I don't agree with all of them, but Don Paskini's latest article, Increasing benefits helps people get jobs, is music to my ears.

Paskini starts by comparing the number of lone parents in work in 1996 (before lone parent benefits were increased) and 2009.

According to Poverty.org.uk, 45% of lone parents were in work in 1996. 57% of lone parents were in work in 2009, during a recession.

He comments:

"If the government pursues a strategy of class warfare, of demonising poor people and cutting their benefits, then people will concentrate on day to day survival, on trying to keep a roof over their heads and coping with ill health and all the other problems that are caused when you don’t have enough money to live on. In consequence, they will find it harder and harder to get a job or stay in work. And, in any case, there will be fewer jobs in their community as benefit cuts suck money out of the local economy.

In contrast, if the government provides everyone with a decent safety net and enough money to live on, then more and more people will be able to think about and plan for more than just getting through to the end of the week. They’ll get the confidence to apply for jobs, they’ll be in better health and even have a little bit of money to spend on studying and developing their skills. They’ll see their friends and neighbours getting jobs and help each other to be able to lift themselves out of poverty.

This isn’t some wild-eyed theory, this is what actually happens in the real world. And Clegg’s comments and those of his right-wing supporters just show, yet again, that they are the ones in denial."

The right love to paint jobseekers as lazy people who love the benefit lifestyle. Yes, because it is such great fun going to the local Jobcentre to sign on one a fortnight or more, for £65 a week as well as housing and council tax benefit. When their turn comes and they are the ones refreshing Gumtree every day and handing out CV's, they'll know.

People who can barely afford to eat will be too tired to look for work and too demoralised. As Paskini mentions, people often need to have money to further their skills and improve their CV.

I notice that many of the people attacking unemployment benefits don't do the same for the amount and universality of child benefit. That's because they and their friends are more likely to claim it.

If people don't want to work, then they shouldn't get benefit. But if they are trying to find work, the last thing they need is for their benefits to be cut. That could send them into despair.