Brighton protest against housing benefit changes (From The Argus)

The government should be encouraging housing coops if it really wants to drive down rents.

Housing coops are communally owned houses that the people who are renting own. They keep rents low as that is what the owners (i.e. the tenents) want.

Isn't that what the "big society" was supposed to be about but instead all they do is take away the money that people need to live!

It's not just the long-term unemployed and people in council houses,the changes are for all those who claim housing benefit.Many of these people work full time but with rents so high they can't cover the cost on their own.This will force many people into the arms of slum landlords as they are the ones who charge low rent.

While Rome is burning (or Brighton protesting)I heard that crackpot Cameron on the radio this afternoon talking about revamping the 'clapped out' electricity supply and how the Govt is going to push forward green energy which will mean our bills will go up by a third to pay for the new infrastructure.
Is he completely mad? Just because his wife doesn't have to worry about putting the heating on or the lights because he is a mult-millionaire and probably doesn't have a clue how much his monthly direct debit is for his bills, there are now ordinary working people who live in fear of a rise in energy bills and who go out in the car or to a local library in order to avoid putting the heating on at home.
They really are completely out of control and out of touch this lot.
Can they see what is going on or are the gates around their estates so high they can't see us peasants.

Jonny Knows wrote:
It's not just the long-term unemployed and people in council houses,the changes are for all those who claim housing benefit.Many of these people work full time but with rents so high they can't cover the cost on their own.This will force many people into the arms of slum landlords as they are the ones who charge low rent.

The government are trying to spin this story to say it only effects the unemployed but it doesn't.

TheInsider wrote:
While Rome is burning (or Brighton protesting)I heard that crackpot Cameron on the radio this afternoon talking about revamping the 'clapped out' electricity supply and how the Govt is going to push forward green energy which will mean our bills will go up by a third to pay for the new infrastructure.
Is he completely mad? Just because his wife doesn't have to worry about putting the heating on or the lights because he is a mult-millionaire and probably doesn't have a clue how much his monthly direct debit is for his bills, there are now ordinary working people who live in fear of a rise in energy bills and who go out in the car or to a local library in order to avoid putting the heating on at home.
They really are completely out of control and out of touch this lot.
Can they see what is going on or are the gates around their estates so high they can't see us peasants.

Completely agree. They are so out of touch it's beyond comprehension. The green taxes is a complete joke anyway. Look at car tax increases, justified and based on emissions of C02. Where does that money go? Certainly hardly any on the roads, and certainly not on greener, new technology such as Wind farms as far as I can see!!

Lets see how Centrica make next quarter....will be billions!!!

TheInsider wrote:
While Rome is burning (or Brighton protesting)I heard that crackpot Cameron on the radio this afternoon talking about revamping the 'clapped out' electricity supply and how the Govt is going to push forward green energy which will mean our bills will go up by a third to pay for the new infrastructure. Is he completely mad? Just because his wife doesn't have to worry about putting the heating on or the lights because he is a mult-millionaire and probably doesn't have a clue how much his monthly direct debit is for his bills, there are now ordinary working people who live in fear of a rise in energy bills and who go out in the car or to a local library in order to avoid putting the heating on at home. They really are completely out of control and out of touch this lot. Can they see what is going on or are the gates around their estates so high they can't see us peasants.

If anyone needs housing benefit,they need a better paid job.Haven't you got a suggestion as to what someone could do who's in the position of needing housing benefit,instead of just moaning that it's the governments fault!

Greegall, here is the suggestion.
Any private profit making company which employs people on wages low enough to trigger State benefits to employees should pay a penalty from the dividends paid to shareholders.
If you look at the companies paying low wages, which then leads to its employees needing financial help from the State, you will find that the State is propping up private industry.
Since when was it ok for multi-millionaires to escape paying tax while their staff are claiming housing benefit and workign tax credits because their employer doesn't pay a living wage.
This is why we have so many mirgants in the UK. They will work for very low wages as it's usually a stop gap between returning home.
There you are greegall. Now how about you?

TheInsider wrote:
Greegall, here is the suggestion.
Any private profit making company which employs people on wages low enough to trigger State benefits to employees should pay a penalty from the dividends paid to shareholders.
If you look at the companies paying low wages, which then leads to its employees needing financial help from the State, you will find that the State is propping up private industry.
Since when was it ok for multi-millionaires to escape paying tax while their staff are claiming housing benefit and workign tax credits because their employer doesn't pay a living wage.
This is why we have so many mirgants in the UK. They will work for very low wages as it's usually a stop gap between returning home.
There you are greegall. Now how about you?

Private companies who employ people on low wages do pay a penalty. It's called tax.

The reason it's OK for things to work this way is because govts. of all complexions allow it to be. It means that people are incentivised to work rather than sit around for even less money.

Wages/salaries are based on supply and demand in the private sector.

You will note that public sector jobs are also often very low paid. This is the taxpayer propping up the state, because they don't pay a living wage.

Bang on. And let's not forget why benefit cuts need to be made in the first place. Once there's no money left, there comes a point when you have to stop spunking it. The end.

TheInsider wrote:
Greegall, here is the suggestion. Any private profit making company which employs people on wages low enough to trigger State benefits to employees should pay a penalty from the dividends paid to shareholders. If you look at the companies paying low wages, which then leads to its employees needing financial help from the State, you will find that the State is propping up private industry. Since when was it ok for multi-millionaires to escape paying tax while their staff are claiming housing benefit and workign tax credits because their employer doesn't pay a living wage. This is why we have so many mirgants in the UK. They will work for very low wages as it's usually a stop gap between returning home. There you are greegall. Now how about you?

As I say,get a better paid job.People on housing benefit and pulling tax credits don't have time to think about getting better paid jobs,they're too busy thinking about how they can get more benefits,it's easier!

Tell that to the 2.5 million on the dole currently and the additional one million expected to join next year.
And just think greegall, you and I could be paying out even more in tax to support all these extra families.
Perhaps you can set up a group to advise these millions on how to get better paid jobs, or any job at all as you seem to be an expert.

TheInsider wrote:
Tell that to the 2.5 million on the dole currently and the additional one million expected to join next year. And just think greegall, you and I could be paying out even more in tax to support all these extra families. Perhaps you can set up a group to advise these millions on how to get better paid jobs, or any job at all as you seem to be an expert.

Let’s face it, most of the 2.5m on the dole can get work but have it too easy to do anything about it.
Q. How to get better paid jobs?
A. Get A job, any job and apply yourself, gain experience, work hard and try to improve yourself. The answer is not to stay at home and claim all you can while moaning you can’t get a job.

roast wrote:

TheInsider wrote: Tell that to the 2.5 million on the dole currently and the additional one million expected to join next year. And just think greegall, you and I could be paying out even more in tax to support all these extra families. Perhaps you can set up a group to advise these millions on how to get better paid jobs, or any job at all as you seem to be an expert.

Let’s face it, most of the 2.5m on the dole can get work but have it too easy to do anything about it. Q. How to get better paid jobs? A. Get A job, any job and apply yourself, gain experience, work hard and try to improve yourself. The answer is not to stay at home and claim all you can while moaning you can’t get a job.

Here's a thought. Before joining a thread, how about reading it first?

Are ALL the 2.5 million just "not applying themselves" then? Including the million+ that had jobs this time last year, jobs that they didn't just volunteer to give up because it was "easier" on the dole?

This is the problem with the tired old "lazy, workshy unemployed" narrative. It does not address how it is that unemployment fluctuates so wildly. Presumably in your world it's because, after having a job for years which they lose, people suddenly become "workshy". But then, a little bit later, they get bored with being workshy, roughly around the time when there are more jobs in the economy.

If you're right, unemployment would continue to rise forever, no matter how many jobs were available, as more and more people discovered what a sweet life of riley it is.

Hey Andy, roast is just typing statements to cause a reaction.
I wouldn't bother answering him/her.
Of course all 2.5 million are not all workshy. He/she is just being silly.

TheInsider wrote:
Tell that to the 2.5 million on the dole currently and the additional one million expected to join next year. And just think greegall, you and I could be paying out even more in tax to support all these extra families. Perhaps you can set up a group to advise these millions on how to get better paid jobs, or any job at all as you seem to be an expert.

It's not serendipity that I'm in the position where I don't need handouts,so don't patronise me.I say again,get a better paid job.It's a shame you think so little of the low paid that you think they're not capable of anything better.