Thread:
I've always felt the answer to this lies in asking why the @Conservatives bought in the £20 rise to start with.
For decades, it was known that benefit rates were paltry+inadequate.
But pleas for even meagre rises were always met with the "no money tree" stonewall (1/)
I've always felt the answer to this lies in asking why the @Conservatives bought in the £20 rise to start with.
For decades, it was known that benefit rates were paltry+inadequate.
But pleas for even meagre rises were always met with the "no money tree" stonewall (1/)
https://twitter.com/TorstenBell/status/1445496109799919631
When Covid struck, the truth is, that for the poorest and particularly job seekers, financial pressures might even have eased. Especially, the travel costs to Jobcentres, job interviews. School runs/costs. Fuel.
I can tell you this, because I was unemployed myself..(2/)
I can tell you this, because I was unemployed myself..(2/)
..So why did a #Tory govt, never known for its "philanthropy" to the poor, suddenly find this magical money tree for #UC claimants ??
Quite simply - politics.
They realised, that 1000s of employed people - and potential Tory voters - would suddenly find themselves having to (3/)
Quite simply - politics.
They realised, that 1000s of employed people - and potential Tory voters - would suddenly find themselves having to (3/)
..claim benefits, due to job losses, or butchered hours, etc etc.
They knew only too well what a shock that reality could be to many. They were desperate to keep the public, and voters, onside. And to not allow awareness of the realities of life on benefits to become too.. (4/)
They knew only too well what a shock that reality could be to many. They were desperate to keep the public, and voters, onside. And to not allow awareness of the realities of life on benefits to become too.. (4/)
...well understood by too many. After decades of keeping the reality tightly hidden under the weight of right wing media "scrounger" lies.
So they gambled, that a temporary lift, would give them brownie points.
They will have been watching the UC claimant figures ever since, (5/)
So they gambled, that a temporary lift, would give them brownie points.
They will have been watching the UC claimant figures ever since, (5/)
...with an eagle eye. The plan being, that once enough people had got back to their jobs, or full hours, or new jobs, that they could go back to ignoring the poorest.
Trouble is - in the process, they have made far more people aware of just how impossible it is to live (6/)
Trouble is - in the process, they have made far more people aware of just how impossible it is to live (6/)
...properly on #UC benefits. That is why there is so much opposition to this move, even amongst Tory MPs, who realise they now have more aware constituents, who will be asking why we could afford it then but not anymore.
But they are now on a hard course back to pre-pandemic (7/)
But they are now on a hard course back to pre-pandemic (7/)
..goals, and have calculated that the uproar about the cut will subside, under the weight 9f new distractions.
Which no doubt it will.
But everyone who keeps pushing "Oh, but it was only meant to be a temporary uplift to help in the pandemic", should have a closer look (8/)
Which no doubt it will.
But everyone who keeps pushing "Oh, but it was only meant to be a temporary uplift to help in the pandemic", should have a closer look (8/)
...at the motivations behind it.
And - IMHO - the motivation was at least as much to help the #Tories themselves, as it was to help the claimants.
But no surprise.
Was caring for the poorest, something that the @Conservatives ever paid more than lip service to..?? (9/9) End.
And - IMHO - the motivation was at least as much to help the #Tories themselves, as it was to help the claimants.
But no surprise.
Was caring for the poorest, something that the @Conservatives ever paid more than lip service to..?? (9/9) End.
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