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Mick Philpott's benefits 'lifestyle' should be questioned, says Osborne Mick Philpott's benefits 'lifestyle' should be questioned, says Osborne
(35 minutes later)
The chancellor, George Osborne, has taken the calculated risk of wading into the debate over child killer Mick Philpott by asking whether the welfare state may have contributed to his lifestyle by being too generous. The chancellor, George Osborne, has taken the calculated risk of wading into the debate over the child killer Mick Philpott by asking whether the welfare state may have contributed to his lifestyle by being too generous.
When asked on a visit to Derby if the Philpotts were a product of Britain's benefit system, Osborne said: "It's right we ask questions as a government, a society and as taxpayers, why we are subsidising lifestyles like these. It does need to be handled." When asked on a visit to Derby whether the Philpotts were a product of Britain's benefit system, Osborne said: "It's right we ask questions as a government, a society and as taxpayers, why we are subsidising lifestyles like these. It does need to be handled."
He said Philpott "was responsible for horrendous crimes, crimes which have shocked the nation".He said Philpott "was responsible for horrendous crimes, crimes which have shocked the nation".
Philpott, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years at Nottingham crown court on Thursday for killing six of his children, lived in a council house, claimed thousands of pounds in benefit and refused to get a job.Philpott, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years at Nottingham crown court on Thursday for killing six of his children, lived in a council house, claimed thousands of pounds in benefit and refused to get a job.
The Daily Mail has directly linked the killings to the welfare state, and there have been calls for child benefit to be withdrawn after more than two children. The move followed the disclosure that Michael Philpott had received more than £8,000 a year in child benefits for his 11 children. The Daily Mail has directly linked the killings to the welfare state, and there have been calls for child benefit to be withdrawn after more than two children. Philpott received more than £8,000 a year in child benefit for his 11 children.
Osborne spoke as he toured the Royal Crown Derby porcelain works, where he was highlighting changes announced in this year's budget. Osborne spoke as he toured the Royal Crown Derby porcelain works, where he was highlighting changes announced in this year's budget. His remarks are carefully calibrated since he does not directly link the deaths to the welfare state, but implies there is a connection.
His remarks are carefully calibrated since he does not directly link the deaths to the welfare state, but implies there is a connection. The Conservative rightwinger David Davis said that in one or two in every 100 cases, child benefit did lead to families becoming larger than they otherwise would. "The point of child benefit is to help the children and not the parents," he said.
The former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe has also drawn a link between the welfare state and the deaths, saying Philpott's attempts to portray himself as a devoted father and house husband was a pathetic con. Davis said the normal size of family was two, three or four, and there was a case for withdrawal of child benefit beyond that.
She said: "I'm appalled by what happened to the children and that now wipes out everything else, but before this happened I was appalled by a state system that allowed a man to live in this way so blatantly. Ann Begg, chair of the work and pensions select committee, said the vast majority of families had one or two children. "I don't believe families have an extra child to make £13.40 a week," she said, adding that children cost more than that.
He tried to portray himself as a house husband, but that was nonsense, he didn't do anything." The Conservative former minister Ann Widdecombe has also drawn a link between the welfare state and the deaths, saying Philpott's attempts to portray himself as a devoted father and house husband was a pathetic con.
Conservative councillor Mick Barker, who represents the Oakwood ward at Derby city council, said: "You might think the Philpotts were dysfunctional, but believe me, they were not exceptional and not unique." She said: "I'm appalled by what happened to the children and that now wipes out everything else, but before this happened I was appalled by a state system that allowed a man to live in this way so blatantly. He tried to portray himself as a house husband, but that was nonsense, he didn't do anything."
Earlier Pamela Nash, the Labour MP for Airdrie and Shotts, warned of the danger of linking Mick Philpott's crime of killing his children to the welfare system: "I think to link his crime of killing his children to his lifestyle his claiming of benefits is just deeply dangerous." The Conservative councillor Mick Barker, who represents the Oakwood ward at Derby city council, said: "You might think the Philpotts were dysfunctional, but believe me, they were not exceptional and not unique."
"We want a welfare system that is fair, in this country, both to the taxpayer and to provide a safety net to those who are in need. However it is still deeply, I think, misleading and as I said dangerous to link that to the death of these children. Mairead and Mick Philpott made a decision to set fire to that house, which led to the death of those children. That is not related to the fact that they were claiming benefits." Earlier Pamela Nash, the Labour MP for Airdrie and Shotts, warned of the danger of linking Philpott's crime of killing his children to the welfare system.
She said it was "offensive" to those who were legitimately claiming benefits. "I think to link his crime of killing his children to his lifestyle his claiming of benefits is just deeply dangerous," she said. "We want a welfare system that is fair, in this country, both to the taxpayer and to provide a safety net to those who are in need. However it is still deeply, I think, misleading and as I said dangerous to link that to the death of these children. Mairead and Mick Philpott made a decision to set fire to that house, which led to the death of those children. That is not related to the fact that they were claiming benefits."
"I also think it is deeply offensive to all those who are really struggling to live on benefits at the moment through no choice of their own, but mostly it's disrespectful to the memory of these children." She said it was offensive to those who were legitimately claiming benefits. "I also think it is deeply offensive to all those who are really struggling to live on benefits at the moment through no choice of their own, but mostly it's disrespectful to the memory of these children.
"The vilification of people living on benefits is a constant theme in the Daily Mail and this should be directed not at those who are claiming benefits legitimately but at those who are claiming them fraudulently. But the case of Mr Philpott, he committed a terrible crime, and to sweep it away and say this was because of the welfare state and not put the blame solely at his door and his wife's door is just shocking.""The vilification of people living on benefits is a constant theme in the Daily Mail and this should be directed not at those who are claiming benefits legitimately but at those who are claiming them fraudulently. But the case of Mr Philpott, he committed a terrible crime, and to sweep it away and say this was because of the welfare state and not put the blame solely at his door and his wife's door is just shocking."