There was a backbench debate in the House of Commons today on the DWP’s use of benefit sanctions. The official line is that claimants are only ever sanctioned if they are not doing what is required of them to either find work or prepare for work. The strong suspicion however is that sanctions are being used primarily to get people off benefits. Labour MP Michael Meacher opened the debate with a speech in which he gave numerous examples of where claimants have been sanctioned through no fault of their own, and highlighted the impact this can have on people’s lives. Here is the text of the first part of his speech (from Hansard):
“I beg to move,
That this House notes that there have been many cases of sanctions being wrongfully applied to benefit recipients; and call on the Government to review the targeting, severity and impact of such sanctions…
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I shouldn’t think there is any doubt that sanctions are being applied at the slight possible chance to meet targets, not for any valid reason.
Apparently Esther McVey compared them with being made to write lines at school. She’s the employment minister! It’s enough to cause despair.
It’s frightening how far from reality most of our politicians live.
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Michael Meacher is a great constituency MP, who really cares. I had a tweet today from someone who says he met a tenant who arrived early at the job centre to look at jobs, and was spotted by a job centre worker, who sanctioned them for being early! Do we laugh or cry? Thanks for posting this Mike.
We get angry.