Glasgow By-election

[MAD BUTCHER]

One the car radio I heard several "experts" commenting on Labour`s disasterous loss. One said that the reason why Labour lost was their new declared policy of making out-of-work people contribute some labour or risk losing their benefit. As the constituency has a very high proportion of voters who just do not want to work, they took exception and voted for SNP.

As I was driving, I could not pay attention and do not know just how serious the comment was although it did sound it. Surely this cannot be true?

[vehelpfulguy]

Well it could be argued (not just for Glassgow East) that because Labour usually seem very keen to give away money to people who dont want to work it is usually in their interest to keep Labour in power.

For example, it was announced recently that 100,000 people claim incapacity benefit because their drug dependancy and alcohol dependancy stops them working.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1531201 /100,000-drug-addicts-and-alcoholics-on-benefi ts.html

So we are paying that many people to sit at home all day and do nothing but get pi55ed or drugged. And they get MORE money than those on Jobseekers allowance.

All these scroungers and layabouts have had a great time of it in the last 10 years because Labour have been very keen to give away money to those that dont earn it or deserve it, while taxing up to the hilt those that work.

So of course those people on benefits are going to vote for any party that allows them to sit on their backsides all day doing nothing, getting handouts from the state.

If they think Labour may take their money away (fat chance) then they will vote for someone else.

[New Judge]

It was, apparently, a serious comment. However, it is unlikely to be seriously implemented. No government of any political persuasion has the will or the ability to implement such a policy.

Whether the announcement caused a swing in voting in Glasgow is doubtful. Many of the beneficiaries of the current policy tend either not to be on the electoral register or, if they are, do not exercise their franchise.

[New Judge]

Could not agree more, vhg.

Unfortunately many correspondents on this site will disagree with our point of view, pointing out all manner of examples where deserving recipients of benefits will allegedly suffer. This question (to which I believed you contributed) shows what I mean:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question59 8713.html

The government needs to devise a way of sorting the needy from the idle and not continue to simply dole out taxpayers' cash in a cavalier fashion.

[Gromit]

It is not unusual for incumbent Government's, Labour or Tory, to suffer bad result in their safe seats at mid-term.

There are many reasons for it. The election bribes do not kick in for another year or so, and Governments tend to do the unpopular stuff mid term.

So, general dissatisfaction can be expected, but in the Glasgow East By election case, a lot of the Governments actions lately, designed to appeal to the Daily Mail reading voters (raising taxes for low earners, working for dole) will have been especially unwelcomed by traditional Labour voters.

Remember, Thatcher lost 3 safe Tory seats mid term in her first term but stayed in power at the next election.

[MAD BUTCHER]

I`m glad NewJudge could verify the comment otherwise I was concerned that I would be accused of mis-hearing it. And my reaction was the same - the people who could take offence would not be voting anyway.