News OnTheWight always welcomes a Letter to the Editor to share with our readers – unsurprisingly they don’t always reflect the views of this publication. If you have something you’d like to share, get in touch and of course, your considered comments are welcome below.
This from Peter Geach, East Cowes. Ed
Austerity was cleverly presented as a focus on removing ‘benefit cheats and spongers’ from leaching our welfare system.
It didn’t affect us did it? All our benefit claims were legit; and we were entitled to them. Most of us had paid taxes for this over the years. It was as an insurance if we fell on hard times. Right!
This wasn’t a free handout
It gave us help if we lost our job, time to find another job of similar pay; helped over a period of sickness. This wasn’t a free handout; it’s what most of us had paid our taxes for over the years in the same way we secured health care through the NHS when needed.
Yes, get rid of the cheats and professional spongers; we’re all for that aren’t we?
What happened next?
More hoops to jump through
In the name of austerity, the Government changed the benefits payment system. And this affected many legit beneficiaries. Suddenly their benefits weren’t the same anymore.
New claimants had more hoops to jump through. The ‘goalposts’ had been moved; benefits entitlement had been changed.
Was it legal?
A more recent example of this was something I heard about the change to unemployment benefits. If you lost your job and couldn’t find another in three weeks; all your benefits would stop!
I wonder if this was legal; we had paid taxes for unemployment benefit over the years; in effect an insurance; the concept hadn’t changed; but the terms of the Insurance had!
Imagine the media outcry if an insurance company continued to take your payment, but changed the terms of your insurance to substantially reduce benefit. And to a stage that it is so at variance to its original intent as to be in practical help virtually useless. Not something an honourable Government would do surely!
When you lose a good job
If you lost a good job; first you have to find something to replace it. Then write a letter, wait for an application form, return that, wait for an interview, get a job offer. That little process can’t be rushed; it depends whether or how quickly the firm responds.
The process can easily take up to six weeks or more. And that would be for most jobs; you keep as many applications going at once as you can; hoping one will come up; even one at minimum wage of about £10/hour. And even then, unless it’s casual work the application process takes time.
MP is out of touch
A mainland job would take about two hours work at min. wage for the daily ferry fare alone. Then there is the bus or train fare to the place of work.
What does Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, think he’s doing representing the Island not to have got free ferry travel for unemployed Island people seeking work on the mainland incorporated in this Bill? He’s out of touch.
Probably the biggest spongers and free loaders can be found amongst MPs.
Austerity is not an honourable concept
Austerity as it has been administered is not an honourable concept. Doesn’t seem to have affected our MPs or the wealthy too much.
After 12 years, the austerity policy has turned over on itself, and turned the clock back towards Victorian times.
Can’t afford to take the risk
One of the Tory leader contenders is talking about a ten-year economic policy to straighten the books!
No thanks; 12 years tells me what Conservatism in its extreme stands for. Can’t afford to take the risk. All gone quiet about the Royal Yacht announced in mid austerity.
Have you seen PMQs on TV and MP’s behaviour after a good lunch and drink at taxpayers expense. At its worst it must surely rival the behaviour at chucking out time at a pub in the rough part of town!
Foodbanks a way of life
Austerity seems to have had no effect on MPs’ entitlements; yet the Nation is in poverty, Foodbanks a way of life.
Austerity has stripped local government of adequate funding to maintain council services; police funding cut beyond the bone. NHS in crisis.
Austerity has decimated our High Streets
Austerity has played a major role in decimating our High Streets. First it was the big family-owned stores, then many National chains that went.
The businesses left in our High Streets could surely be accommodated renting space within the larger supermarkets. And why not a Cop Shop too; situated where the action is and a Police presence needed.
Boris has left us with our trousers round our ankles
It’s been reported Boris has given away our contingent stocks of missiles to Ukraine that cannot immediately be replaced; have to get production started. He’s left us with our trousers round our ankles!
PayBack time from the rich; don’t you think!
