Housing benefit
Tory MPs lobby David Cameron on the ‘bedroom tax’
Liam Byrne launched Labour’s campaign on the ‘bedroom tax’ today, while Helen Goodman, who was the Labour minister responsible for the party’s own attempt at cutting the housing benefit bill… Continue reading
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The ‘bedroom tax’ shows Downing Street does need a Damian McBride character
MPs are debating that Cut With the Awkward Name, the Under-occupation of Social Housing: Housing Benefit Entitlement, also known by its opponents as the ‘bedroom tax’, this afternoon. I’ve already… Continue reading
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PMQs sketch: Ed Miliband vs David Cameron on the ‘bedroom tax’
It was cynical. It was shameless. It was low-down politics in every way. But Miliband’s stunt at PMQs very nearly worked. His theme was the reform of housing benefit that… Continue reading
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PMQs: Ed Miliband’s ‘bedroom tax’ attacks ignore the facts
At a particularly unedifying PMQs today, one Labour MP even suggested that ministers need cognitive behavioural therapy. The cause of all this rancour: the so-called ‘bedroom tax’. Now, the ‘bedroom… Continue reading
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Cut housing benefit for under-25s? Yes, but be careful, say Tory members
George Osborne might have failed to get his housing benefit cut for the under-25s past the Lib Dems in time for the Autumn Statement, but, as James reported in his… Continue reading
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Sacked ministers make trouble at Treasury questions
Treasury Questions was a little quieter than usual today: George Osborne is away and so Ed Balls left the questions to his colleague Chris Leslie. The Shadow Chancellor didn’t say… Continue reading
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David Cameron must beware of hitting his dream ‘striver’ voters
Now that the Tories have at least agreed within their own party that they can find £10 billion of further cuts to the welfare budget, they are starting to ramp… Continue reading
26 CommentsWaiting for welfare reform
After a summer of sporadic announcements, IDS’ welfare reforms will be published in a white paper next week. As in 1997, when Tony Blair urged Frank Field to think the… Continue reading
12 CommentsEXCLUSIVE: What about those who aren’t pulling a housing benefit scam?
Most sensible taxpayers think Britain’s current housing benefit costs to be a terrific scam. In the last five years the bill has risen by 25 percent. We now pay £21billion… Continue reading
54 CommentsIt is when Boris comes from the right that he is a threat to Cameron
The ease with which Number 10 dealt with Boris Johnson’s sally on housing benefit has revealed something important. A challenge from Boris is a threat to Cameron when Boris is… Continue reading
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