Philpott was a criminal before benefits

CHANCELLOR George Osborne has demonstrated the depths to which the Tories will sink in using the manslaughter of six children to both justify his Government’s attack on benefits and, also to review child benefit. I refer, of course, to Mr Osborne’s comments linking the tragic deaths to Mick Philpott’s life on benefits.

What Mr Osborne conveniently overlooks is that Philpott had a long history of violent crime and prison sentences for such offences long before he lived on benefits. Therefore, to try and link benefits to Philpott’s crimes is not only clutching at straws but also shows the depraved, moronic thinking of this evil Government.

Most people, existing on benefits, do so because of their misfortune to be ill, infirm or out of work. The latter category, rapidly increasing as a direct consequence of Mr Osborne’s failed economy and policies.

To link such decent people to heinous crimes is an insult. However, it does not surprise me as Tory philosophy and thinking does not belong in the modern world. Rather it should have disappeared over 200 years ago.

In conclusion, some years ago at an university lecture, I predicted that the Tories would resurrect the workhouse (albeit in another name). Some 25 years later, its return is almost a reality, given the contempt this party has for ordinary people. Incidentally the Poor Laws never disappeared, as the concept of deserving and undeserving poor that underpinned them, remains at the heart of current welfare benefit legislation.

From: John Cole, Oakroyd Terrace, Baildon, Shipley.

THE crimes of Mick Philpott and his associates were appalling in the extreme and deserve every condemnation.

Equally deserving of condemnation is the shabby attempt by George Osborne to link Mr Philpott’s life on benefits with the horrific crime. In the Chancellor’s own words: “there are questions ...about the welfare state ...subsidising lifestyles like that”.

For me it is wholly unacceptable to take such an extremely exceptional (indeed isolated) case and use it as a stick with which to beat the recipients of benefits, 99.9 per cent of whom do not behave in this manner.

The Conservatives, to their shame, are leading an assault on the welfare state and are ruthlessly deploying a “divide and rule” policy to segregate into two opposing camps the “strivers” and the “shirkers”. The chief executive of Ipsos Mori opines that “whatever the ethics, Osborne’s move is probably good politics” since what Osborne says resonates with majority public opinion.

I disagree. The Tory narrative debases and demeans our political discourse. It may bring short term gains but poisons our politics long term.

What we need are statesmen who are signposts to better things – not weather-vanes, registering ill-thought through public feelings.

From: David W Wright, Uppleby, Easingwold.

HAVING witnessed the pantomime and the antics of the politicians during George Osborne’s presentation of his Budget, one is confronted by a sorry sight both for the future of the country and the credibility of our elected politicians.

Their antics, particularly those of Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, must surely leave the electorate with a stark choice for the future – stay with the very unsatisfactory Lib Dem/Con alliance or risk a fate worse than death of having a Labour administration composed of third rate comedians and empty windbags. What a choice.