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Helping People To Get Off Benefits And Into Work

28/10/2009

By Lea Pachta

Speaking at his regular press conference David Cameron outlined his priorities, including a new policy focus on tackling the benefits trap.

"One business I visited recently told me that twenty percent of its workforce would be better off if they left work and went on benefits", he said. "What sort of crazy signal does this send out?".

Cameron highlighted new figures that show that some families are facing marginal tax rates of over 100 per cent, meaning that they are better off on benefits than in work. In response, he announced that George Osborne the Shadow Chancellor will "lead a new programme of work to develop a lasting, and affordable, policy solution to this problem".

This work will be done together with Theresa May, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, and Iain Duncan Smith "who has done some outstanding work in this area".

Cameron went on to raise other areas in which the Conservatives have been setting the agenda, such as in opposing the cuts in Territorial Army and in cleaning up our political system.

He also announced that he had asked every member of the Shadow Cabinet "to learn from Labour's mistakes and to think carefully about their reform priorities". These key priorities will be published publicly so that the public can hold them accountable for them if the Conservatives win the next election.

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