The Chancellor’s sunlit uplands
The spending round contained some surprises and innovations, Economics Editor Faisal Islam reports.
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Politicians like to climb onto the “benefits tourism” hobbyhorse from time to time. But does the evidence really show that people come to the UK for a life on benefits?
Penalising benefit claimants who are not deemed to be doing enough to find work is leaving people without any money to live on, according to research from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Downing Street defends its crackdown on “benefit tourism” despite new evidence from the European Commission that it is “neither widespread nor systematic” in the UK. Is it merely a myth?
George Osborne defends his plans to make the long-term unemployed “work for the dole”, saying it will help people get off benefits.
George Osborne outlines the “help to work” programme and his hope to freeze fuel duty, but tells the Conservative party conference the battle to turn Britain around “is not even close to being over”.
The latest figures from the Work Programme have been hailed as a success by the government – and a resounding failure by Labour and the unions. FactCheck cuts through the spin.
The spending round contained some surprises and innovations, Economics Editor Faisal Islam reports.
The government faces protests as it launches the controversial new universal credit benefit system as part of major changes to welfare.
There are four jobseekers competing for every vacancy, according to one of Britain’s biggest unions. But are things getting better or worse? FactCheck finds out.
It’s hard not to avoid a subtext in the government’s new council tax support scheme, that it’s part of a move to encourage – or push – people back into work.
Iain Duncan Smith says we’re spending too much on the benefits bill, which have gone up faster than private sector wages. Is he right? FactCheck takes a look.
The new Universal Jobmatch website has left many jobseekers worried about the safety of their personal information – and claimants uncertain about whether they are obliged to register.
Although we are only one year into a two-year scheme, today’s Work Programme figures are bad news for the Department for Work and Pensions – and the numbers for ill and disabled people are even worse.
Labour are probably unwise to try to make too much political capital out of the lack of progress on this problem. To do so only invites comparisons with their own record, which is far from exemplary.
Chris Grayling says a “rehabilitation revolution” driven by payment by results will cut re-offending. FactCheck digs in.