Thursday 3 November 2011

Here's a challenge to OWS - benefits

Ministers are considering alternatives to an inflation-linked rise to benefits, government sources have said.

Benefits are due to go up by 5.2% from next April, in line with September's inflation figures.

But the government is worried about the cost of such hikes and the impact on public opinion given the current low wage increases.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the government would "not balance the books on the backs of the poor".

He said "difficult decisions" would have to be taken, but he would not "provide a running commentary on decisions and debates which haven't even been held in government yet".

Sources would not say what other options were being considered instead of an inflation-linked rise. It is not thought that any change to the planned 5.2% rise in pensions is being considered.

The BBC News channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said one possible option could be raising benefits in line with the average inflation rate for the year, rather than the September figure.

Freezing payments
The Financial Times is reporting that Chancellor George Osborne has asked officials for alternative models, including a rise in line with average earnings growth of about 2.5% or freezing some payments.

It is understood the government will have "resolved" the options by early December when the uprating of benefits is presented to Parliament.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies has calculated that the 5.2% September inflation figure will add £1.8bn to welfare spending next year.

It said freezing all benefits and pensions would save about £10bn and linking benefits increases to wage rises would save £5bn.

A further option of switching from the September inflation figure to an average inflation figure calculated over six months could save about £1.4bn, the IFS added.
SOURCE - BBC
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Let's see OWS - and the fabled 99% fiercely support raising benefits at least in line with inflation. If they don't, then they are acquiescing in a cut to the income of the very poorest.

This is a big challenge to the notion that the 99% support social solidarity, and protection for the poorest. We shall see. I don't hold any expectation that benefits will rise in line with inflation - none whatsoever. Nor do I expect the country at large to support doing so: the supposed class solidarity of the 99% is a myth.

12 comments:

Real Truth Online said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Real Truth Online said...

Hmmmmmm. I did NOT use profanity yet my comment was still IGNORED and DELETED.

Hmmmmmm.

How in the FUCK can you possibly condemn OTHER blogs for censoring you when you do THE EXACT SAME THING???????

the_last_name_left said...

Because you're a total twat and you didn't address the blog post.

You're not doing so now. Any more posts by you here that don't remotely address the topic will be deleted too.

Spam on - and get deleted. Twat. :D

Real Truth Online said...

EAT MY SHIT YOU FAGGOT. YOURE A IRRELEVANT NAMELESS, CHICKENSHIT BLOGGER [IF YOU CAN CALL YOURSELF THAT]. BLOGGERS USUALLY POST THEIR NAMES! YOURE TOO SCARED TO. YOURE A FUCKING FRIGHTENED COWARD.

the_last_name_left said...

Not exactly on-topic, is it?

I'll leave that post there as an example of why you get banned everywhere you go.

Real Truth Online said...

Why don't you leave it up as an example of how hypocritical you are? My earlier post had NO profanity, yet you deleted it because you claimed it was "off topic", yet you leave this one up DESPITE it being off topic.

When does the world know you're REAL name asshole?? Why are you AFRAID to post your REAL name? Because when you're wrong [and that's every single day] you don't want the embarrassment of being called out on it and having people post on their blogs what a big FRAUD you are, so you hide behind your computer keys and go anonymous. If that isn't the epitome of being the world's biggest chickenshit fraud, what is??

If I'm wrong----PROVE IT! POST YOUR NAME!!

the_last_name_left said...

So pyschos like you can stalk me better? Sure.

Real Truth Online said...

"So pyschos like you can stalk me better? Sure."

If by stalking you mean expose your fraudiness on my blog everyday---then "yep!"

And that's what frightens you!!

the_last_name_left said...

Hmmmm. I hadn't noticed that terror, tbh.

Real Truth Online said...

"So pyschos like you can stalk me better? Sure."

You mean, kinda like what you do to Mike Rivero?? I do a lot of stories on Ostroy and O' Reilly, but I don't hold a candle to how frighteningly obsessed you are with Rivero. Christ, it's almost EVERY DAY you do one on him.

You don't call what YOU do to him STALKING????

If that's not stalking, the please give me your definition of it. I'm all ears.

Under your labels, 45 stories are under "whatreallyhappened" [Rivero's website], 41 are under "anti-semitism". I bet all, if not...MOST of those are about Rivero, you have 31 labeled "Mike Rivero" ['nuff said], you have 12 labeled "Rivero" and 7 labeled "Michael Rivero" [whats the difference between the Mike and Michael stories??? who knows?].

That's 136 stories on ONE MAN. 136!!!!

That's NOT stalking????????

If he is ever murdered, I will submit your blog to police as the top suspect! [by the way doofus, hiding your name, like the COWARD you are, won't stop cops from finding you].

Real Truth Online said...

Add to the 136 number the articles you did on him that you didn't label. So, that number is higher.

the_last_name_left said...

You want to see how many articles the Guardian does on the Prime Minister.......stalkers, huh?

And AUTOSPORT are stalking Lewis Hamilton, eh?

YA daft brush