Interesting to see that Bob Russell, the Lib Dem MP for Colchester, has written an article in the socialist (or communist) Morning Star.
It begins:
Before people “have a go” at the coalition government – and I recognise why people should be concerned or worse at proposals relating to housing benefit and welfare generally – let us not forget the abject failure of the 13 years of the last Labour government.
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It not only left the country in a state of financial shambles but, appallingly, Labour departed from office with 3.9 million children living below the official poverty line, the gap between rich and poor wider than it was in 1997 and built fewer than 7,000 council houses while they sold half a million. No wonder we have a housing crisis.
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The Tory newspapers are revelling in stories of lazy benefit scroungers living in a four-bedroom mansion in a posh area. It’s a good thing, they say, that the coalition government is going to put a stop to it!
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Well, such a scenario is, thankfully, rare. And I do not defend such isolated incidents.
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While I can understand the anger that such a picture conjures up, the reality is that while some ministers portray such a scene, they know that it is not like that for most households – so I deplore the false impression which is being given. ….
Hat-tip: Nick Barlow