Political parties clash on welfare

In every corner of Britain, politicians are trading blow for blow in an effort to present their positions on balancing the need for austerity measures to cut public spending and the need to provide welfare support to those in need.

The welfare policies brought in by the Coalition Government five years have been attacked continually by opposition parties, while both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats insist they have driven economic recovery in the UK following Labour’s poor financial handling when in power.

Last month the Work and Pensions Committee at Westminster said a full independent review should be established following the election to investigate whether benefit sanctions are being applied ‘appropriately, fairly and proportionately’.

At a local level, Clackmannanshire is one of the most affected areas in Scotland as a result of cost-cutting measures.

Data from the Office of National Statistics, cited in annual reports from the New Policy Institute and Joseph Rowntree Foundation, found that referrals for benefit sanctions in the Wee County were higher than any other of Scotland.

The figures show that 17 per cent of those in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) were referred for sanctions in the first half of 2014, compared to 16 per cent in Aberdeen and 15 per cent in Aberdeenshire.

Clacks also has the highest rate for sanctions imposed with 8.1 per cent.

It is often argued that increased benefit sanctions – said to impact more on vulnerable people – have also contributed to higher rates of food bank use and increased applications to the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF).

Every month, more than 100 people from Clackmannanshire appeal to the SWF for emergency support in the shape of crisis grants and community care grants. Half of all applications are rejected.

In addition, between 2013 and 2014, the number of meals delivered by The Gate foodbank rose from 13,528 to 35,500 and it is also predicated that over 50,000 meals will be delivered in 2015.

Furthermore, figures from the Campaign to End Child Poverty found Clacks to be one of the worst areas for child poverty in Scotland, with more than a quarter of youngsters living below the poverty line.

Over the past few weeks, members of the four main political parties have been out campaigning across the Wee County in a bid to take the Ochils and South Perthshire seat.

The Alloa Advertiser asked the four candidates for their views and how they would approach the welfare issue if sent to Westminster for the next five years.

Gordon Banks...

The incumbent, Labour’s Gordon Banks is looking for his third successive term as local MP and pledges that a Labour Government would end targets for benefit sanctions and would guarantee a job for the long-term unemployed.

He said: “[In my constituency office]...I see the end result of these sanction targets, where people are sanctioned for no reason or bad reasons.

“It causes unnecessary hardship and we all know from the Trussell Trust, the Gate and Active 8 that welfare issues are the biggest single driver in food bank usage.

“Labour is committed to scrapping sanction targets and we are committed to getting welfare spending down, in a way which is totally different from other parties.

“We will get welfare spending down by getting people back into work, by taxing bankers’ bonuses to create a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee for people who are on JSA. We will also introduce a Future Fund of £1600 for each 18 and 19 year old who doesn’t go into higher and further education.” Mr Banks also argued the SNP plan for full fiscal autonomy (FFA) would create an annual £8 billion black hole in the Scotland’s finances.

He said: “What would be a disaster for people in Scotland is the very innocent sounding full fiscal autonomy being peddled by the SNP, which independent experts such as the IFS and even the Scottish Government through their GERS report have confirmed would leave Scotland with a spending gap of up to £8 billion a year.

“This would mean that Scotland would have to cut spending by almost £8 billion or raise taxes by almost £8 billion. Full fiscal autonomy also means that we would have to give up the Barnett Formula which is worth £1600 for every income tax payer in Scotland.” Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh...

SNP candidate Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said the current austerity measures from the Coalition Government have hit hard-working families and the most vulnerable people in society.

If the Nationalists can claim a large number of seats, Ms Ahmed-Sheikh says the party will push for a minimum wage of £8.70, an uprating of child tax credits and child benefits, and an increase in work allowances.

She said: “Westminster austerity has not delivered for the people of Clackmannanshire as record numbers have been forced to turn to foodbanks to feed themselves and their families.

“Hard working families across Clackmannanshire simply can’t afford another five years of cuts.

“But that’s all that Labour and the Tories have to offer as they plan to implement £30 billion further austerity – whilst spending £100 billion renewing Trident weapons of mass destruction. This isn’t just economically illiterate, it’s morally indefensible.

“Years of continued Westminster austerity have harmed the poorest ten per cent of households more than anyone else – hitting families with children hardest.” She added: “With sensible, modest increases in public spending we can protect and improve public services like the NHS – and give people the real alternative they are crying out for.

“Westminster needs to listen to the needs and concerns of ordinary families and if elected, I will work hard to ensure this happens.” Luke Graham...

One of the main Conservative policies include a pledge to raise the tax threshold to £12,500 while finding better paying jobs for those able to work.

Candidate Luke Graham also hit back at opposition parties who have criticised the government’s approach to welfare, and said thousands of people had gone into employment in the last five years.

He said: “I have always felt we should adhere to the simple principle of fairness: provide help to those who need it and reward work for those who can.

“If re-elected, the Conservatives will increase the threshold to £12,500 to ensure that no-one earning the minimum wage will pay tax.” He added: “Opponents often raise the issue of benefits caps and sanctions. To be clear, the Conservatives have balanced the system so that it will always pay more to be in work than on benefits.

“The benefits cap (currently at £26,000) excludes those on the working family tax credit and the most vulnerable, including those on Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment. In addition, hardship payments are now fast-tracked and paid within three days.

“The actions taken in the last five years are not enough to remedy all of our problems or close the gaps in attainment and child poverty that exist between the Clackmannanshire and Perth & Kinross parts of our constituency.

“If elected, I will use national resources to encourage jobs to Clackmannanshire, support the Conservative plan to take more people out of tax and expand further education, so now that we have more people in jobs, we give them the opportunity to step up in those jobs.” Dr Iliyan Stefanov...

Dr Iliyan Stefanov, the Liberal Democrat candidate, called for more voters to take the ‘safe and responsible’ choice with their ballots.

He said: “I strongly believe that politics should be about creating the opportunities for us all to live longer, healthier and happier lives.

“How we use these opportunities should always be a free personal choice but living in a society means individuals have responsibilities too.” Dr Stefanov said the Lib Dems will ‘raise the minimum wage without slowing job creation’ while ensure the living wage is paid in the public sector where possible.

On the issue of benefit sanctions, he said: “The Liberal Democrats will review the way sanctions operate and have proposed the introduction of a ‘yellow card’ scheme.

“Under this system, people would be given a second chance and an explanation of what they need to do differently, before they lose any of their benefits.

As part of this process, claimants would be thoroughly briefed on the sanctions process and how to avoid having their payments removed, in order to reduce the number of people who are sanctioned excessively or inappropriately.

I also want to see improvements in work capability assessments so people who are unable to work, because of a disability or illness, are assessed quickly and fairly.” He concluded: “For the first time, the choice at this election is not about who will walk through the door of Downing Street, but about which of the smaller parties will walk through with them. A vote for the Liberal Democrats is a safe and responsible choice, perhaps the only safe and responsible one.