Quote:
Originally Posted by mrmistoffelees
I don't think and never had said that people in group 1 should be penalised because of those in group 2. if that's what you're taking from my statement then you're overreaching, badly.
I do think that everyone should be making some form of contribution albeit in some cases it would be very minimal to to the services that they use.
Group 2 need to be cracked down on, sognificantly, but in order to do that it's going to cause distress to those in group 1
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They aren’t linked but you want to punish some of the poorest people in society simply because some are taking advantage (and as Richard correctly pointed out breaking the law). Those in group 2 will simply engage in more side hustle.
Benefits (and pensions) in the UK are already among the lowest in the G20 and the supposedly “advanced” economies.
DWP estimates fraud and error to be around £8bn a year. HMRC on the other hand measure the tax gap at £32bn. Interest payments on the UK debt is £90bn and getting more expensive. If you think anything will be solved by punishing the vast majority of honest benefit claimants to get a few who are gaming the system then you are mistaken. It’s extremely small beer, but a good right wing trope to demonise the poor.