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Tories spell out benefit cut plan Tories spell out benefit cut plan
(11 minutes later)
The Conservatives say they would pay for their £600m plan to "get Britain working" by cutting the incapacity benefit bill.The Conservatives say they would pay for their £600m plan to "get Britain working" by cutting the incapacity benefit bill.
People on employment support allowance who are deemed fit to work would be put on the jobseeker's allowance, reducing their benefits by £25 a week.People on employment support allowance who are deemed fit to work would be put on the jobseeker's allowance, reducing their benefits by £25 a week.
All incapacity benefit claimants would be assessed to see if they could work.All incapacity benefit claimants would be assessed to see if they could work.
Ministers have described the Tory plan to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefit as "callous".Ministers have described the Tory plan to reduce the number of people on incapacity benefit as "callous".
David Cameron's position on the Lisbon Treaty is also under the microscope at the Conservative Party's conference in Manchester, amid calls for a referendum, whether it has been ratified or not.David Cameron's position on the Lisbon Treaty is also under the microscope at the Conservative Party's conference in Manchester, amid calls for a referendum, whether it has been ratified or not.
'Tailored help''Tailored help'
But the Tory leader wants to concentrate on what he has described as a "big, bold" shake-up of the welfare system.But the Tory leader wants to concentrate on what he has described as a "big, bold" shake-up of the welfare system.
He told the BBC it was not about trying to reduce people's standards of living: "There are about 2.6 million people on incapacity benefit. Those who genuinely can't work, who are disabled, we as a compassionate society should look after them, should help them, and should pay their benefits, yes.He told the BBC it was not about trying to reduce people's standards of living: "There are about 2.6 million people on incapacity benefit. Those who genuinely can't work, who are disabled, we as a compassionate society should look after them, should help them, and should pay their benefits, yes.
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Boris warns Cameron on Crossrail-must be paid for-Cameron hasn't promised it yet#cpc09 About 1 hour ago Boris gets his own video before his speech and an ovation as he arrives on stage-they love him#cpc09 About 2 hours agoMon, 05 Oct 2009 09:56:37 +0000 About 2 hours ago Small but noisy UKIP group targeting tories on their way into conference this morning #cpc09 About 3 hours ago Tories have a mini shopping mall in the conference centre, including a Harvey Nichols-no room for tacky memorabilia here!#cpc09 About 18 hours ago What is this? Keep seeing Boris,mobbed everywhere he goes-clearly for members, the star of the show so far in Manchester#cpc09 6 minutes ago Boris warns Cameron on Crossrail-must be paid for-Cameron hasn't promised it yet#cpc09 About 1 hour ago Boris gets his own video before his speech and an ovation as he arrives on stage-they love him#cpc09 About 2 hours agoMon, 05 Oct 2009 09:56:37 +0000 About 2 hours ago Small but noisy UKIP group targeting tories on their way into conference this morning #cpc09 About 3 hours ago What is this?
"There are also people on incapacity benefit who could work, and what we're saying is: 'If you can work, you should work, we will help you to work, we will get you the tailored help and support'.""There are also people on incapacity benefit who could work, and what we're saying is: 'If you can work, you should work, we will help you to work, we will get you the tailored help and support'."
The Tories plan to scrap Labour's flagship New Deal back-to-work programme in favour of more personalised help for the jobless, offering training courses for those unemployed for more than six months.The Tories plan to scrap Labour's flagship New Deal back-to-work programme in favour of more personalised help for the jobless, offering training courses for those unemployed for more than six months.
Benefits would be cut if people refused to take part.Benefits would be cut if people refused to take part.
Private training firms would be used to prepare people for work and also to assess all those on incapacity benefit, with initial start-up costs of £600m.Private training firms would be used to prepare people for work and also to assess all those on incapacity benefit, with initial start-up costs of £600m.
The Tories plan to cover the cost by transferring more people from incapacity benefits to jobseeker's allowance.The Tories plan to cover the cost by transferring more people from incapacity benefits to jobseeker's allowance.
They say they would extend a government pilot scheme aimed at getting people on incapacity benefit into work, which has a 19% success rate, across the whole of the UK.They say they would extend a government pilot scheme aimed at getting people on incapacity benefit into work, which has a 19% success rate, across the whole of the UK.
'On a mission''On a mission'
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove denied it was a throwback to more hard-line Conservative policies of the 1980s, saying the plan was within the tradition of moderate "one nation" Conservatism and was about dealing with entrenched poverty and improving social mobility.Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove denied it was a throwback to more hard-line Conservative policies of the 1980s, saying the plan was within the tradition of moderate "one nation" Conservatism and was about dealing with entrenched poverty and improving social mobility.
"The Conservative Party is a party on a mission, on a crusade, to deal with deep-seated social, structural problems which have kept 20% to 30% of our people in poverty because they have not had the opportunities to rise which others have been given," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."The Conservative Party is a party on a mission, on a crusade, to deal with deep-seated social, structural problems which have kept 20% to 30% of our people in poverty because they have not had the opportunities to rise which others have been given," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The Tories don't seem to care about getting people into jobs, they just want to cut their benefit Jim Knight Employment minister Send us your comments Nick Robinson on the welfare plan Read Stephanie Flanders' thoughtsThe Tories don't seem to care about getting people into jobs, they just want to cut their benefit Jim Knight Employment minister Send us your comments Nick Robinson on the welfare plan Read Stephanie Flanders' thoughts
Following the Tory announcement, the government announced a number of new policies aimed at getting more than 750,000 people back into work by the end of next year.Following the Tory announcement, the government announced a number of new policies aimed at getting more than 750,000 people back into work by the end of next year.
People who have been out of work for more than six months - but have turned down work experience, support or training - will be required to take a work experience placement as a condition of receiving their benefits.People who have been out of work for more than six months - but have turned down work experience, support or training - will be required to take a work experience placement as a condition of receiving their benefits.
But Labour rejected the Conservative approach as "callous".But Labour rejected the Conservative approach as "callous".
"This is unfair on the genuinely sick who should not suffer a £25 a week cut in benefit," employment minister Jim Knight said"This is unfair on the genuinely sick who should not suffer a £25 a week cut in benefit," employment minister Jim Knight said
"Our plans are to get people off benefit and into work. The Tories don't seem to care about getting people into jobs, they just want to cut their benefit.""Our plans are to get people off benefit and into work. The Tories don't seem to care about getting people into jobs, they just want to cut their benefit."
But the Conservative plan was welcomed by Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI business organisation, who said: "The struggling economy and rising unemployment demand fresh thinking from all political leaders and we like the look of many of these suggestions."But the Conservative plan was welcomed by Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI business organisation, who said: "The struggling economy and rising unemployment demand fresh thinking from all political leaders and we like the look of many of these suggestions."
The Conservatives are the last of the three main UK parties to hold their annual conference, running from Monday to Thursday in Manchester.The Conservatives are the last of the three main UK parties to hold their annual conference, running from Monday to Thursday in Manchester.
They are currently riding high in the opinion polls ahead of the general election which has to be held by next May at the latest.They are currently riding high in the opinion polls ahead of the general election which has to be held by next May at the latest.
Do you think this plan would get people back to work? Would you be affected by the cuts? Send us your comments using the form below.Do you think this plan would get people back to work? Would you be affected by the cuts? Send us your comments using the form below.
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The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions