Work in progress

Too many people have been allowed to “milk” the benefits system for too long and the steadfastness of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats is welcome. Compare their resolution to Ed Miliband’s “blank cheque” approach to this policy.

However, goodwill towards the Government will dissipate if the latest tranche of changes are not implemented efficiently – and without impinging upon those vulnerable people whose welfare payments are totally legitimate.

The early signs are not encouraging. Even though it was inevitable that government helplines would be swamped with calls from people complaining about having to pay council tax for the first time, or the downgrading of their housing benefit under the controversial so-called “bedroom tax” policy, the Department of Work and Pensions does not appear to have been prepared for this eventuality.

The consequence is that Yorkshire councils, already facing funding battles of their own, are desperately trying to sort out the confusion that stems from the DWP failing to think through the consequences of its decision-making, a familiar failing of Whitehall departments.

Given that various benefits payments are managed both locally and nationally, the surprise – and regret – is that there is not a more efficient way of introducing these changes. For, if there was, the Government would not be such a soft target for Labour which is looking to exploit every example of mismangement in order to mask its own policy void.