Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

Announcements about making it easier for people to get back to work are interesting.  One of the big issues I had raised with me during the election was people in low paid employment who were being penalised by the system where they were worse off in work.  It isn't just benefits people lose when starting to work, it is free school meals, free health entitlements such as prescriptions and so on.  The "not paying tax till you earn £10,000 a year" policy was a good one, and even though it is only being phased in, I am glad to see it has at least started.  What I do not want is to see those who cannot work being penalised to bring in a scheme where people who start work are genuinely better off.  As always the devil is in detail, and I'll certainly lbe looking at that when it comes out.