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Mick Philpott case: Cameron backs Osborne over comments | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
David Cameron has backed Chancellor George Osborne after he suggested a link between the Mick Philpott case and the need for welfare reform. | |
The prime minister told the BBC that living on benefits should not be a "lifestyle choice". | |
Unemployed Philpott has been jailed for killing six of his children in a fire. | Unemployed Philpott has been jailed for killing six of his children in a fire. |
Senior Lib Dem Danny Alexander has rejected Mr Osborne's comments, saying the Philpott case should be treated as an "individual tragedy". | |
Philpott was convicted of manslaughter, along with his wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley, over an arson revenge plot that went wrong last year. | Philpott was convicted of manslaughter, along with his wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley, over an arson revenge plot that went wrong last year. |
Much of the coverage of the trial focused on the fact Philpott, his wife and his mistress had lived with him at the three-bedroom council house in Derby with 11 of their children. | Much of the coverage of the trial focused on the fact Philpott, his wife and his mistress had lived with him at the three-bedroom council house in Derby with 11 of their children. |
He received more than £8,000 a year in child benefit, as well as the income support and wages paid to his wife and mistress, which went into his bank account. | He received more than £8,000 a year in child benefit, as well as the income support and wages paid to his wife and mistress, which went into his bank account. |
Philpott was jailed for life on Thursday. | |
Asked about the case on a visit to Derby on the same day, Mr Osborne said there was "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". | |
His comments provoked a storm of criticism from Labour and Lib Dem MPs, who accused the chancellor of trying to make political capital out of an appalling crime. | |
Mr Osborne's second-in-command at The Treasury, Danny Alexander also appeared to distance himself from the chancellor's remarks. | |
The chief Treasury secretary said: "George Osborne is right that there needs to be a wide debate about the future of our welfare system, but the Philpott case is an individual tragedy. | |
"I think that's where we should let that case lie. I wouldn't want to connect that to the much wider need to reform our welfare system." | "I think that's where we should let that case lie. I wouldn't want to connect that to the much wider need to reform our welfare system." |
However, speaking on a visit in his constituency of Witney in Oxfordshire, Mr Cameron through his weight behind Mr Osborne, saying the chancellor had made a point of stressing Philpott was "responsible" for his crimes. | |
"But what the chancellor went on to say is you should ask other questions about our welfare system," said Mr Cameron. | |
"We want to say welfare is there to help people who want to work hard, but it's not a lifestyle choice." | |
For Labour, shadow chancellor Ed Balls called Mr Osborne's remarks the "cynical act of a desperate chancellor", adding that "to link this wider debate to this shocking crime is nasty and divisive and demeans his office". | |
Philpott has been told he will 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. | Philpott has been told he will 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. |