If you think Labour took a wrong turn, here’s Iain Duncan Smith

Mike Sivier's blog

Hour of the Vampire: Iain Batwing Smith is forcing jobseekers into non-jobs for no pay in order to cut off their benefits. He'll bleed you dry. [Image: Christopher Sharrock http://sharrock.wordpress.com/] Hour of the Vampire: Iain Batwing Smith is forcing jobseekers into non-jobs for no pay in order to cut off their benefits. He’ll bleed you dry. Image: Christopher Sharrock http://sharrock.wordpress.com/ Even after Rachel Reeves’ recent lurch to the Right, Labour’s behaviour remains beyond saintly in comparison with the gutter-vermin who describes himself as the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

I read the following altercation, copied verbatim from today’s Hansard (the record of Parliamentary events) on Facebook and almost despaired. The following took place during Work and Pensions Questions.

Andy Sawford (Corby) (Lab/Co-op): “Will the Secretary of State confirm whether benefits officers been have told not to sanction people when the only job offered is on a zero-hours contract? Do Ministers recognise that the new claimant commitments mean that people will not actually be able to sign zero-hours contracts without risking losing their in-work benefits?

Mr Duncan Smith: “The…

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