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In London alone, councils are saying 82,000 people will lose their homes. They are already booking the bed and breakfast accommodation
Ed Miliband
David Cameron has defended his plans to cap housing benefit, as Ed Miliband seeks to exploit Lib Dem disquiet.
Speaking during prime minister's questions this afternoon, Cameron said the proposal to cap the amount of housing benefit a family can receive at £20,000 was an "issue of fairness".
"Our constituents are working hard to give benefits so people can live in homes they couldn't even dream of. I don't think that's fair."
The prime minister said most voters "could not dream" of living in a house that cost £20,000 to rent each year.
Cameron added: "Housing benefit for working age people over the last five years has gone up by 50 per cent. This is a budget completely out of control."
The coalition is also proposing to cut payments by 10 per cent when people have been on jobseeker's allowance for more than a year.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said the policy was a "complete shambles" and asked the prime minister what advice he would give to people who would see their income cut by 10 per cent even though they were actively looking for work.
"In London alone, councils are saying 82,000 people will lose their homes. They are already booking the bed and breakfast accommodation," he told MPs.
But Cameron said the government was instituting the "best and biggest programme of help people back into work" by way of compensating for any job losses.
And he criticised Labour for not offering any alternatives or supporting any of the coalition's proposed spending cuts despite their admission some cuts had to be made.
"If you've got nothing to say it would be better not to say it," he said.
And Cameron gleefully read from a leaked internal Labour memo that offered advice on how to perform better during prime minister's questions, including the recommendation that Miliband end on a "cheer line" to please his MPs.
Deploying his own cheer line Cameron said: "He's got a plan for prime minister's questions but no plan for the economy."
During the exchanges Miliband also sought to exploit apparent divisions within the coalition over benefit reform. He said Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes looked "glum" while deputy prime minister Nick Clegg looked "glummer".
"It's no wonder he's back on the fags," he added, poking fun at Clegg's radio admission that he still smokes cigarettes.
Hughes is known to be unhappy about the government's plan to cut housing benefits, having described the move as "harsh and draconian".
Backbench Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell also urged Cameron to look again at the proposals.
"This is not a laughing matter for the thousands children who could well become homeless," he warned.
Article Comments
I agree with David Cameron. I do not think all these private landlords will ever try to evict their tenants because:-
The rents are inflated and would not attract private rental.
The rent is guaranteed by the government - something every landlord would relish!!
Landlords take no prisoners and know where their bread is buttered - they will accept the cut because it is still guaranteed to be paid and regularly. Additionally - they will not take the chance in private sector where tenants are extremely particular about not just the property but the facilities within the property.
Stick with it David!!
MCM
27th Oct 2010 at 4:30 pm
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