Should please a few folks here...

[jerry]

long long overdue!Been saying this a long time. When I was out of work having been made redundant I wouldnt have had a problem with it as it would have got me out the house, meeting other people and given a bit of self worth.Employment on such schemes might also improve chances of getting a "proper" job as attitude to work is one of the key things  employers look at .Trust me, in too many areas even in the current climate you might  interview 100 people but only consider about 4 for the job and this isnt about "experience" in a lot of cases as many job skills can be taught. How many of us on here personally know of those on benefits who do FA and have no interest in getting a job. Dont forget that ourtaxes fund their lifestyle. I believe a benefits system is vital and that includes unemployment benefit which has to be set at a realistic amount .However the Labour party's soft attitude to all this has brought us here. As for accusations of "slavery", get a grip please! There are of course situations where there simply are no jobs to be had in an area and so such people on benefits might be seen as being "used" and they also have to be mindfull that the jobs they get them to do does not take work away from others as a cheaper option. The New Deal of the American 30s cannot be seen as having been an overall success but using an unemployed labour force for housing projects or dams was surely not a totally negative move. Our situation isnt the same but you get my drift

[Banjax]

imagine you've worked for the council for 20 years as a street sweeper, due to cuts you're been laid off but fear not, the job is now taken by a long term unemployed and we pay them next to nothing!!! genius. 

next plan please DC 

[wingman]

Yeah another great idea from this bunch of millionaires and eton toffs who haven't got a clue how real people live. Even more brilliant idea when there are already 5 applicants for every job vacancy. So if your unemployed and have spent 12 months looking for a job that isn't there in the first place your going to be forced to carry out work that takes even more jobs off of the list. Typical warped tory thinking IMO.

[albitz]

Well im out of work at the moment and have been for a while as i worked as a contractor there are gaps between jobs thanks to people from over the water coming over and taking the work i have a massive gap before getting back. When i was working i was paying sometimes over £300 in tax a week so does this mean i shouldn't be able to claim back £65 without having to work for it, as i see it i have worked and put plenty in. Its not that im lazy but the only temp work i have seen so far pays less then benifits, plus as we all know miggys are abit of a money pit  but when the job i do comes up i need a big car that can handle long motorway work and a seat that takes my fat asre so i cant buy something cheaper to run.

It is for the long term unemployed - they wont say it out loud but its obviously aimed at those who have no intention of working. Get them of their bums, and give them a routine of doing something other than watching Jeremy Kyle.

[albitz]

Yeah another great idea from this bunch of millionaires and eton toffs who haven't got a clue how real people live. Even more brilliant idea when there are already 5 applicants for every job vacancy. So if your unemployed and have spent 12 months looking for a job that isn't there in the first place your going to be forced to carry out work that takes even more jobs off of the list. Typical warped tory thinking IMO.

I think there is more personal pride involved in giving something back to your community for the benefits you recieve than stagnating at home for a long period. Its common knowledge that people who are out of work for years become used to the routine of it, accept their financial circumstances and give up on their aspirations and ambitions. This might just go some way to help some people not fall into that downward spiral.
Dont see how the bank balance or school attended has a lot to do with the ability to take decisions. Most of those at the top of new liebore were privately educated and had eye watering bank balances - which they went to great lengths to keep quiet.
Comes across as inverted snobbery to me tbh.

[albitz]

imagine you've worked for the council for 20 years as a street sweeper, due to cuts you're been laid off but fear not, the job is now taken by a long term unemployed and we pay them next to nothing!!! genius. 

next plan please DC 

Should mean a drop in council tax (do you have that in Scotland ?) - works for me.

[Richie London]

gonna be hard work getting all the africans to work they only come here for the benefits

[waspy]

Yeah another great idea from this bunch of millionaires and eton toffs who haven't got a clue how real people live. Even more brilliant idea when there are already 5 applicants for every job vacancy. So if your unemployed and have spent 12 months looking for a job that isn't there in the first place your going to be forced to carry out work that takes even more jobs off of the list. Typical warped tory thinking IMO.

My warped thinking too

[Banjax]

gonna be hard work getting all the africans to work they only come here for the benefits

Didier Drogba's on benefits? 

[Richie London]

gonna be hard work getting all the africans to work they only come here for the benefits

Didier Drogba's on benefits? 

no hes got a full passport now so his tribe can comeover

[alfie]

This is by the tory party that not so long ago sold off all the countrys assets,British gas,British Telecom,British Steel,British Rail,to name but a few at Knock down prices to their pals to make a few quick bucks.
Never ever trust the tories,they don't know how real people live.

[alfie]

Anyhow if the goverment didn't pay it out in benifit,they would only give it in aid to some thrid world country to launch another rocket,ie INDIA.

[albitz]

They sold the shares to everyone - the general public included, not just their pals. A lot of ordinary people made themselves quite a bit of money from buying those shares.
The companies which where privatised, made so much profit in the private sector that the tax revenue they generated for the exchequer was many billions more than they ever produced in revenue as private companies.

P.S. Im not a Tory, have never voted for them and probably never will.
P.P.S. Do you honestly think that Bliar or Brown etc. had any more idea how ordinary people live than the current lot do ?

[waspy]

This is by the tory party that not so long ago sold off all the countrys assets,British gas,British Telecom,British Steel,British Rail,to name but a few at Knock down prices to their pals to make a few quick bucks.
Never ever trust the tories,they don't know how real people live.

So just tell us which politician we can trust :-/

Labour where in power for far too long & ran outa ideas. We needed a change in government

[alfie]

I think that if John Smith hadn't had such a untimely end,he would have made an excellent prime minister and done a much better more equal country than either Blair or Brown.
Going back to the shares issue,I worked for British Steel so I got mine nil cost,but thats not the point that I was making,they were under valued,hence the taxpayer was robbed.