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| Osborne's Philpott remarks spark row | Osborne's Philpott remarks spark row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Chancellor George Osborne's remarks on whether the state should pay for the lifestyles of people like Mick Philpott have sparked a political row. | Chancellor George Osborne's remarks on whether the state should pay for the lifestyles of people like Mick Philpott have sparked a political row. |
| Father-of-17 Philpott was jailed for life after being convicted of killing six of his children in a house fire. | Father-of-17 Philpott was jailed for life after being convicted of killing six of his children in a house fire. |
| Mr Osborne said a debate was needed about whether the state should "subsidise lifestyles like that". | Mr Osborne said a debate was needed about whether the state should "subsidise lifestyles like that". |
| But shadow chancellor Ed Balls condemned Mr Osborne's comments as "a cynical act of a desperate chancellor". | But shadow chancellor Ed Balls condemned Mr Osborne's comments as "a cynical act of a desperate chancellor". |
| Philpott was convicted of manslaughter, along with his wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley, over an arson revenge plot that went wrong. | Philpott was convicted of manslaughter, along with his wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley, over an arson revenge plot that went wrong. |
| He was told he would serve a minimum of 15 years in prison, while Mairead and Mosley were told they would serve at least half of their 17-year sentences. | |
| 'Horrendous crimes' | 'Horrendous crimes' |
| Much of the coverage of the trial focused on unemployed Philpott's lifestyle and the fact that his wife and his mistress Lisa Willis had lived with him at the three-bedroom council house with 11 of their children until Miss Willis moved out in February 2012. | Much of the coverage of the trial focused on unemployed Philpott's lifestyle and the fact that his wife and his mistress Lisa Willis had lived with him at the three-bedroom council house with 11 of their children until Miss Willis moved out in February 2012. |
| The prosecuting lawyer told the jury: "Michael Philpott did not want to work. He just wanted a house full of kids and the benefit money that brings." | The prosecuting lawyer told the jury: "Michael Philpott did not want to work. He just wanted a house full of kids and the benefit money that brings." |
| Philpott received more than £8,000 a year in child benefit for his 11 children, as well as the income support paid to his wife and mistress, which went into his bank account. | Philpott received more than £8,000 a year in child benefit for his 11 children, as well as the income support paid to his wife and mistress, which went into his bank account. |
| After his conviction, debate has raged over claims by some commentators that Philpott was the product of an over-generous welfare state. | After his conviction, debate has raged over claims by some commentators that Philpott was the product of an over-generous welfare state. |
| AN Wilson, writing in The Daily Mail, said: "The particular manner in which his nastiness was exercised, and the way in which he lived, was the direct consequence of his being able to live scot-free at the expense of the taxpayer." | AN Wilson, writing in The Daily Mail, said: "The particular manner in which his nastiness was exercised, and the way in which he lived, was the direct consequence of his being able to live scot-free at the expense of the taxpayer." |
| He later told the BBC: "This is a freak case. But this was a man who had 17 children and one of the underlying motives for this crime is that he was angry with one of the girlfriends, Willis, who took away from him five children and in so doing so took away £1,000 a month. | He later told the BBC: "This is a freak case. But this was a man who had 17 children and one of the underlying motives for this crime is that he was angry with one of the girlfriends, Willis, who took away from him five children and in so doing so took away £1,000 a month. |
| "It isn't an insult to the dead children to say one of the reasons he was free and easy about having more children was that he drew benefits on their behalf." | "It isn't an insult to the dead children to say one of the reasons he was free and easy about having more children was that he drew benefits on their behalf." |
| But Owen Jones, an Independent columnist and author of Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class, argued: "The idea he is representative of people on benefits is as absurd as suggesting Harold Shipman is representative of doctors. | |
| "His lifestyle was partly funded by in-work benefits and the pay packets of the women who were working." | "His lifestyle was partly funded by in-work benefits and the pay packets of the women who were working." |
| Mr Osborne, who this week has been defending cuts to housing benefit and other welfare changes, said: "Philpott is responsible for these absolutely horrendous crimes and these are crimes that have shocked the nation; the courts are responsible for sentencing him. | Mr Osborne, who this week has been defending cuts to housing benefit and other welfare changes, said: "Philpott is responsible for these absolutely horrendous crimes and these are crimes that have shocked the nation; the courts are responsible for sentencing him. |
| "But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state - and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state - subsidising lifestyles like that, and I think that debate needs to be had." | "But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state - and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state - subsidising lifestyles like that, and I think that debate needs to be had." |
| However, the shadow chancellor has criticised his intervention. | However, the shadow chancellor has criticised his intervention. |
| In a blog post, Mr Balls said: "George Osborne's calculated decision to use the shocking and vile crimes of Mick Philpott to advance a political argument is the cynical act of a desperate chancellor." | In a blog post, Mr Balls said: "George Osborne's calculated decision to use the shocking and vile crimes of Mick Philpott to advance a political argument is the cynical act of a desperate chancellor." |
| Mr Balls highlighted the need for "a proper debate about welfare reform". | Mr Balls highlighted the need for "a proper debate about welfare reform". |
| "But for the chancellor to link this wider debate to this shocking crime is nasty and divisive and demeans his office," he added. | "But for the chancellor to link this wider debate to this shocking crime is nasty and divisive and demeans his office," he added. |
| 'Shocked and disgusted' | 'Shocked and disgusted' |
| Defending his welfare reforms, which he argues encourage people to work rather than rely on benefits, Mr Osborne has dismissed claims that they mark the end of the welfare state as "shrill, headline-seeking nonsense". | Defending his welfare reforms, which he argues encourage people to work rather than rely on benefits, Mr Osborne has dismissed claims that they mark the end of the welfare state as "shrill, headline-seeking nonsense". |
| But critics, including church groups and the Labour Party, have accused ministers of unfairly targeting poor people. | But critics, including church groups and the Labour Party, have accused ministers of unfairly targeting poor people. |
| Shadow work and pensions minister Stephen Timms said Philpott and the others convicted on Thursday were solely responsible for their "evil acts". | Shadow work and pensions minister Stephen Timms said Philpott and the others convicted on Thursday were solely responsible for their "evil acts". |
| "It is wrong to link those acts with the debate about welfare, and George Osborne should not be doing so, even implicitly," he said. | "It is wrong to link those acts with the debate about welfare, and George Osborne should not be doing so, even implicitly," he said. |
| The government should recognise that people on benefits "are as shocked and disgusted by the callous killing of these children as anyone else in Britain", added Mr Timms. | The government should recognise that people on benefits "are as shocked and disgusted by the callous killing of these children as anyone else in Britain", added Mr Timms. |
| Philpott had already achieved tabloid notoriety as "Shameless Mick" and "Britain's biggest scrounger" before his trial began. | Philpott had already achieved tabloid notoriety as "Shameless Mick" and "Britain's biggest scrounger" before his trial began. |
| In 2006 he appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show, on ITV, to demand a bigger council house. The following year he was in a documentary with Ann Widdecombe, who was then a Conservative MP and tried to get him a job. | In 2006 he appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show, on ITV, to demand a bigger council house. The following year he was in a documentary with Ann Widdecombe, who was then a Conservative MP and tried to get him a job. |