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Watch: DWP tries to divert attention from crippling £12bn cuts by releasing pensions rap Watch: DWP tries to divert attention from crippling £12bn cuts by releasing pensions rap
(35 minutes later)
In what can only be described as a bizarre attempt to divert people's attention from the £12bn of welfare cuts set to be announced in Wednesday's Budget, the Department for Work and Pensions has released a rap promoting the government's workplace pension reforms.In what can only be described as a bizarre attempt to divert people's attention from the £12bn of welfare cuts set to be announced in Wednesday's Budget, the Department for Work and Pensions has released a rap promoting the government's workplace pension reforms.
The short video, posted on social media website Vine, is a re-release of a longer YouTube video launched two years ago that promoted its landmark initiative to automatically place employees into workplace pension schemes two years ago.The short video, posted on social media website Vine, is a re-release of a longer YouTube video launched two years ago that promoted its landmark initiative to automatically place employees into workplace pension schemes two years ago.
It was set up with a target of signing up some 4.3 million more people saving for their retirement.It was set up with a target of signing up some 4.3 million more people saving for their retirement.
A YouTube video of DWP workers was released at the time. The rap went like this:A YouTube video of DWP workers was released at the time. The rap went like this:
Can I have your attention, about the workplace pensionCan I have your attention, about the workplace pension
Did I forget to mention, millions of people are already benefitingDid I forget to mention, millions of people are already benefiting
From being involved in the workplace pensionFrom being involved in the workplace pension
So can I have your attentionSo can I have your attention
The re-released video comes two days before George Osborne will unveil more details of where he will wield the axe as he looks to swipe £12bn from the welfare budget.The re-released video comes two days before George Osborne will unveil more details of where he will wield the axe as he looks to swipe £12bn from the welfare budget.
Only around £1.5bn of the cuts have so far been announced, with the benefit cap set to be cut from £26,000 to £23,000. Only around £1.5bn of the cuts have so far been announced, with measures including the freezing of working age benefits for two years saving £1bn; reducing the benefit cap to £23,000 and removing housing benefit from young people.
A bulk of the further cuts are expected to fall on tax credits, which could hit more than seven million children according to the government's own child poverty advisers.A bulk of the further cuts are expected to fall on tax credits, which could hit more than seven million children according to the government's own child poverty advisers.
A new analysis by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission found that any cut in tax credits would reduce the incomes of 45 per cent of working families.A new analysis by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission found that any cut in tax credits would reduce the incomes of 45 per cent of working families.