Because people clearly want to talk about it,
here's a link to the Guardian's account of Iain Duncan Smith's opinions on the Marr show this morning. As always, the comments under the article say it all, and personally I've nothing to add - but go ahead.
I found something quite interesting while searching a4e on twitter today- below is a link for a freedom of information of request detailing all the companies that have accepted people on workfare placements for a London a4e office-
ReplyDeletehttp://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/77563/response/196264/attach/html/2/1743%20Reply.pdf.html
included among the various charity shops and other organisations jobseekers have zero chance of gaining paid employment with when their slavery is at an end, are several offices of a4e!!!
it is almost unfathomable to me- this company is allowed to charge taxpayers to put the unemployed back into work- only to put them to work, for free, in their own offices! you could not make it up!
It's strange we've got to the point of debating what students are too good for when it's besides the point. Isn't this supposed to be about tailored support? Isn't the claimant entitled to help which is relevant to her career? Why is it suddenly okay that tailored support in this case isn't delivered just because she dares think her education entitles her to a better job than shelf stacking?
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't be surprised at the sight of politicians rationalising their policies, but the contradicting rhetoric coming out of the DWP these days should be obvious even to Conservatives.
I sometimes think we are Dracula in the coffin waiting for Van Helsing AKA Ian Duncan Smith to drive another steak in to try and kill us off once once and for all..
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether Cait Reilly has considered standing for Parliament in 2015? If not, she should consider the idea, imho.
ReplyDeleteIDS lied during his interview with Marr’s stand-in. He claimed that the scheme Cait was sent on was “voluntary.”
At the time when she was sent to Poundland, the Govt had told Cait – unlawfully - that it would be mandatory for her to participate in the scheme, which is why she put up with Poundland for a couple of weeks.
The scheme did not become “voluntary” until after the DWP had hastily altered its own guidance to itself, once Foskett J had made it clear that there would be trouble unless the DWP acted lawfully.
The court is very sceptical of IDS’ attempts to wriggle round the National Minimum Wage Act and the court has made it clear that it will not tolerate this charade unless Parliament – not IDS on his own – decides to alter the Law in a properly lawful, constitutional fashion.
IDS is nowhere near out of the woods yet, legally, but I suspect that he is probably too dense and too mendacious to be willing to admit to reality.
Does anyone remember seeing the pre-doctored version of the Work Programme Provider Guidance: Chapter 3?
DeleteIt used to say that JSA claimants must be mandated to undertake work experience otherwise national Minimum Wage Regulations would apply! You can still see it in it's original form in this screenshot before the reference to the National Minimum Wage was removed.
http://helpmeinvestigate.com/welfare/mandatory-instruction-removed-from-dwp-workfare-document
Time the self-appointed "quiet man" was made to shut up.
ReplyDeleteGot any duct tape, anyone?
IDS doth protest too much. It is interesting that he never mentions the words programme and work and he also slipped in the 'over half came off benefits'; that is not the same as over half getting a job. They seem to be getting quite desperate in wheeling out IDS to rant on TV for a few minutes and not answer a single question or quote one single figure to back themselves up. To call a high court decision 'rubbish' is probably bordering on contempt of court. I think they may score a few more own goals before too long.
ReplyDeleteI see here is no mention of the Community Action Programme in the new JSA rules and regulations.
ReplyDeleteGeologists have protested; see the Guardian here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/feb/18/geologists-iain-duncan-smith-shelf-stacking
Ultimately the gov't are going to have to invest in jobs and the unemployed by creating paid work opportunites. If they don't the social security bill will increase, while tax receipts will continue to fall, leaving a huge tax deficit and it follows more public sector cuts and the annihilation of the welfare state. If this is what they want then they are embarking on the most perverse and destructive ecomomic policy in British history.
ReplyDeleteMy blood boils at the mention of IDS.
ReplyDelete"People who think it is their right to take benefit and do nothing for it – those days are over."
Then create some bloody jobs and kick start the economy. I am tired of hearing the same thing,does IDS honestly think the majority of Job Seekers actually want to claim benefits? does he think we sit on our backsides all day watching T.V.? Major companies are going bust on a daily basis, putting thousands out of work who sadly may end up in the dole queue,and this is the best he can come up with....so what he is saying is, if you claim benefits you are a scrounger, you want to live in luxury on 70 quid a week doing nothing all week, oh and lets not forget recieve Housing and council tax benefit payments.oooh its a life of luxury.
There are a very small minority of people who dont want to work, i know a few of them, but for the record IDS, most of us want to work, and are constantly looking can he get that. Obviously not, a man with no intelligance whose only quest is to stir S**t in the media and cause fast growing hatred amongst our society, oh yes Mr Smith you know it .... we are tired and bored of hearing it, now come up with a workable solution(not the usless UJM and WP) and earn your money
It could be worse .Ian Duncan-Smith was once the leader of the Conservative party
DeleteHe would have organised the rest of the government the way he has organised the Work Programme, the Universal Jobmatch, the Universal Credit etc, etc, etc,
I know that the Labour party now seems to despise the poor almost as much as the Tories, but I don't think things will be anywhere near as bad if they were in power.
Thankfully, the Tories are making a mess out of everything else, not just employment and social security policy and so although they might win the next election, I don't think that it is very likely.
Fifteen years from now Duncan-Smith will just be a faint memory and most people will not even remember what the Work Programme was.
@Anonymous 19 February 2013 01:51
DeleteI agree with you. I think Miliband & Co are much less impetuous than IDS, so they wouldn't make the same legal blunders that IDS has made.
Also, Ed Miliband seems to me to be a good leader. He understands how to unite his political party behind him and he seems to be able to put his foot down when necessary.
Cameron is not a natural leader. I think that is his main weakness. Everyone has become fed up with one unforced error after another by this chaotic Coalitition and its dithering, vascillating Prime Minister.
As for IDS, I'd bung him in a dungeon where he could scream as much he liked but nobody would be able to hear him. If it were up to me, I wouldn't waste any duct tape on him!
Workfare is NOT just an issue for unemployed people; in fact, it affects ALL of us. If the government and bosses are able to get away with paying just £1.60/hr, what will that mean for people working for a regular wage? What does that mean for the national minimum wage of £6.08/hr? And the Workfare placements are instead REAL vacancies, taking away genuine jobs from the working class.? what do YOU think?
ReplyDeleteHi there - Owen Jones here, journalist at the Independent and currently writing a book for Penguin. I'm keen to talk to A4e employees, former or current, in complete confidence. Let me know. I'm on o.p.jones AT gmail DOT com.
ReplyDeleteAmazing,once again went to the WP today for the Tailored support that was not supplied last week,due to a screw up and once again waited around while the staff asked time and again what we were there for.After a "consultation" among staff they arrived at a decision "Do job search" once again left alone,no support and this six times a month...and yes this sarcasm.
ReplyDeleteDoes becoming a Minister give one an unlimited licence to insult ,slander and libel the unemployed ?
ReplyDeleteAccording to the ruling IDS usurped the authority of Parliament. In the construction of the regulations for the Work Programme he went beyond the powers given to him by Parliament.Hence he did not imediately go and appeal the ruling instead he rushed new regulations through parliament. The DWP should , like the banks, should automatically pay benefits out where sanctions were unlawful. The new regulations should not be retrospective.
Can I suggest that those of you who think you are on the Work Progamme contact Public Interest Lawyers for clarification.
ReplyDeleteThe new 2013 legislation that has been rushed out is only effective from 12 Feb. Remember it cannot be backdated. And the letters being sent to Work Programme participants from the DWP - implying it's business as usual - also only mention the 2013 legislation.
http://www.publicinterestlawyers.co.uk/
In nearly three years I cannot think of ONE single constructive measure that this gov't has introduced to improve the UK economy. Where are the jobs, where are the regeneration strategies, the public works programmes, the investment in 'new' industries? Nothing. Nada. Zero. Zilch.
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase The Simpsons. Worst. Government. Ever.
The point is more to do with a futile rhetoric that people are supposed to dupe themselves into believing because of an underlying logic due to the state of affairs. RBS bosses are making away with million of taxpayer's money, exorbitant bonuses are still in the making, MP's are still pilfering from the public purse and there's still the overall problem of truncating labour to downsize and create more efficient businesses. It's easier to kick a dog when it's down. There are people who were earning reasonably good wages who are now reduced to claiming benefits and after exhausting available options to find new work are deemed LTBs.
ReplyDeleteCorruption does indeed shower down on the lowly.
IDS was just on the BBC,spouting that unemployment has fallen. Even the experts do not understand this as output has also fallen as well as JSA claims,is someone massaging the numbers or are more sanctions been dished out?
ReplyDeletei was sanctioned last month for not using my UJM account to apply for jobs after getting telephone calls from south african based companies wanting me to buy into some pyramid scheme [selling solar panels via the internet lol] after finding my details through the site.. although the sanction was quickly overturned on appeal.
Deleteso yes, i would imagine sanctions have definitely gone up. increasingly when i go to sign on it seems like i'm walking an obstacle course where one false move will result in a sanction.. the advisors are definitely there to trip you up more than help navigate you back into a job.
Another Guardian article
ReplyDeletework-programme-success-creaming-parking
This time from a Richard Johnson who says " I ran welfare-to-work offices across the country for Serco, when my advisers were constantly seeking ways to reach more people trapped more deeply in unemployment."
I detect a subtle change in that the argument would appear to be: "OK so the Work Programme's not working. But it's not our fault - we haven't been given enough money". Most of the comments following the article seem to see through this.
And listen to IDS struggling to explain how benfits can be payment for work experience and at the same time not pay:
http://www.lbc.co.uk/listen-obriens-explosive-row-with-duncan-smith-67738
That radio interview with James O' Brien was great! THAT is how Smith needs to be tackled! Take note ITN and BBC News! Put me in mind of Krishnan Guru Murthy's brilliant interview with Emma Harrison.
DeleteAs Dads Army's Cpl Jones would say, "They don't like it up 'em!"
It's only available as a paid-for podcast. Can you summarise it for us?
DeleteHistorian, the link is the same as Gissajob kindly provided. No payment needed!
DeleteDifficult to summarise as both participants kept interrupting (necessary on O' Brien's part as Smith was in his usual one track, not answering the question mode)
Thanks, I'm being thick. I've heard it now. Entertaining but frustrating, since IDS wasn't challenged on the right things.
DeleteLetter from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) solicitor to DWP querying the DWP's misinterpretation of guidance issued by the judges in the Cait Reilly case regarding claimants being able to appeal an existing sanction.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/CPAG-letter-Reilly-and-Wilson-Feb-13.pdf
Yes - anyone who has suffered a sanction(s) whilst on one of these scams (sorry schemes) should put in an appeal without delay. If necessary get Legal Aid (which will stop being available in April)
DeleteAs with the case of the banks mis-selling PPI and other such schemes, the DWP should be made to automatically find any claimants who have been santioned unlawfully.They have all the data and the resources to do this ,honestly.
ReplyDeleteIt is outrages for the DWP to expect everyone affected by the ruling to go through an appeals process. It is the DWP and IDS error they should be reponsible for correcting their error. They were fast enough to alter the regulations after the judgement.
Lets see some Fair and Honest treatment of Jobseekers for once.