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Edwina Currie on UC being cut

112 replies

Fizbosshoes · 08/10/2021 21:55

This week I heard Edwina Currie on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2. (I know I am being unreasonable for listening to proffessional shit stirrer JV but the radio is on at work)

There was a single mum (who's partner had been killed in a car crash.) She worked ft and had 2 kids but was going to struggle without the £20 uplift.

Edwina Currie said she sympathised as she remembered how it was when her kids were small juggling budgeting and childcare...
Confused She was an MP and her husband was an accountant- I doubt they were struggling!

Then she said that people should tell their employer they're looking for a job elsewhere and the employer would probably want to keep them on and give them a payrise...Hmm

When challenged that a lot of the jobs available were not suitable for a single parent with childcare to sort out (eg shifts, overnight work in a warehouse etc) she said people needed to be "creative" (wtf does than mean in this instance?) and that most grandparents would love to help.
Then there was a pile on of callers telling people that they were scroungers and "to get a job".

Its literally like they're willfully not listening or sticking their fingers in their ears and saying "la la la la la not listening" and just coming out with patronising BS.

The original caller did work full time and was still struggling.
Not everyone has grandparents...at all ...or nearby, or maybe the GPS are working themselves...or don't want to do full time, or overnight childcare (not unreasonable). And where are all the employers falling over themselves to give people a payrise...? Some businesses pay NMW to cut costs, other businesses won't be able to afford payrises after covid and brexit.

And the assumption that people are sitting around waiting for handouts and that if they could just "upskill" or "better themselves" it would solve the problem....
How can they not hear what people are saying...?

OP posts:
SecretGardenn · 09/10/2021 13:50

It's quite disturbing that someone cacooned in the upper middle class/ upper class bubble is an MP. No understanding of reality.

Privileged does not equal bright.

Graphista · 09/10/2021 14:37

The uplift was used as a way to force people over from legacy benefits to universal credit thinking they would be better off

Yes I think that's why it wasn't applied to legacy benefits to try and "persuade" those of us on legacy benefits over to uc even though in many cases that's against our best interests

I've been advised to avoid doing so for as long as possible as my situation is complicated and while you get the transition protection AT FIRST the SECOND there's a "change in circumstances" you're screwed!

@AlphabetAerobics rolling shifts are ludicrous! Can anyone explain to me what benefit they are to employers? They certainly are no use to most employees! Most employees need the security and ability to plan that comes with set shifts

Every interview I have ever seen her on, regardless of topic has demonstrated just how out of touch she is with reality and quite a cold hearted bitch.

I wholeheartedly agree

I suppose though MPs get a vote to give themselves a payrise

That isn't quite accurate, it's supposedly an independent dept decides this (selected by mps!)

@roarfeckingroarr of the remaining 60% the majority of those are either sick/disabled themselves or caring for others - either sick/disabled care or young children the group that would previously have been on Jobseeker's Allowance are the smallest group

There was a Tory mp saying there £82k salary wasn’t enough and needed another £20k, so this is the planet they live on

Yes I saw and was disgusted by that! Not to mention the subsidies and expenses! Were they really take the piss!

Priti patel - £77, 000 on BROWS! Ffs

but I do think it wrong that taxpayers should have to subsidise rich companies who pay shit wages

Yes - but the narrative doesn't play that way does it? It's the low paid employees that are attacked, vilified and shamed! Not the greedy employers paying their CEO's millions while paying their entry level staff a pittance

We need a situation where nobody will take those badly paid jobs, as they cannot make a living on them. Then the employers will have to offer higher wages.

Or a decent govt that introduces an ACTUAL living wage

Even the current nmw isn't properly enforced/regulated

No point being surprised that a Conservative is Conservative.

Agreed

They haven't changed, they're being no different than they've ever been. I don't understand even small business people voting for them let alone working class and as for people on benefits voting for them wth!

Makes no sense whatsoever. The tories have ALWAYS been the party that represents the independently wealthy, large corporations and similar they have never had any interest or sympathy for anyone below those levels

The “if I were in their shoes I could sort this issue out so easily”. Pure ignorance.

Yep! Totally clueless - and not interested in learning otherwise

@ssd that cartoon/article is so accurate

To those commenting about those on uc "only" working part time - you do realise you're being almost as bad? Or is that how you think you basically agree with the tories? I know one poster probably doesn't think they go far enough but I don't engage with that poster for I think obvious reasons

But if you consider yourself generally not Tory and yet are commenting this way perhaps consider the various reasons people might be working part time even if they could in theory work full time

Lack of jobs (tories bang on about "get a job" yet do SOD ALL to actually create jobs or support small to medium size Uk businesses)

Lack of childcare certainly affordable childcare - the free hours etc are a minefield to negotiate, not to mention the nonsense where you have to magic up the 1st month from thin air as even if you are eligible for help with it it's paid in arrears, not to mention lack of availability in general especially in rural locations Plus usually childcare is office hours only, so eg single parents cannot work outside office hours then themselves as there's no childxare. A factor which meant I couldn't get a job that fully utilised my degree as it would have meant working either shifts or long hours which was impossible to do as a single mum and having to collect dd from childcare at 6pm at the latest!

People that work part time may be doing so because they have other, usually caring responsibilities - with elderly care in particular this isn't recognised or valued yet saves the country a bloody fortune!

People that work part time may not be fit/healthy enough to work full time. There's any number of conditions where this may apply either permanent or temporary, visible or invisible - and at the moment that may well include recovering from COVID/long COVID issues

Not being able to see further than your own nose is a failing to me, but it seems to be an attribute to the tories.

Yep!

And as you rightly say op not everyone CAN get additional qualifications. Either because they haven't the time/money to do so or because they simply aren't capable of doing so not everyone is academically able. I'm very fortunate I am as is dd but certainly many of dds peers aren't all headed to uni as they don't have the aptitude

Currie isn't very bright and has clearly never held down a real job.

Just checked and you're absolutely right. She did PPE (which many career politicians do) so she's not stupid but no common sense and then went straight into politics. Never done a days "graft" in her life!

Sadly this scenario is becoming more true of even Labour politicians too!

Personally if I were in charge I'd make everyone who wants to be an Mp do 6 months living on minimum benefit level income, living in social housing and with that comment in mind make the last 3 months be they're working in a nmw job too.

They're fucking clueless about the real world the majority of MPs now especially tories

But then I suspect that's partly as decent hard working people don't WANT To be mps because it's all such a mess now!

Haven't RTFT but why is there no pressure in these firms who make millions in profit to pay a decent wage?

Well at the moment it's because the tories are in power and it's the likes of the ceos of such companies that are their main donors so they don't wanna piss em off and lose the donations - basically

@LadyWithLapdog I'm constantly urging people to look at voting records that is the true measure of an Mp. At various points especially on here when posters were giving it how "nice" eg Rory stewart and Rishi sunak were I pointed out they were NO different to other tories and indeed their voting records show them to err very much to the right even within the Tory party! Coming across well on telly is meaningless! Look at what they actually do? Talk is cheap actions tell you the true character of a person

Also imo applies to the horrendously corrupt practice of allowing MPs (of all colours) to be landlords and property developers etc. When you look at the voting records of these MPs they almost always vote against any measures to address the housing crisis, bring housing prices down or give tenants decent rights. It's a conflict of interest and shouldn't be allowed!

@Sinner10 that is utterly heartbreaking and appalling

I guess its too much to expect the Tories to see how it's actually them we'd be asking for a pay rise and they've already said no...

Another excellent point

Upsielazy · 09/10/2021 14:41

@Fizbosshoes

Its funny how only poor people are encouraged to "be creative" and make better choices and manage their money better. MPs get subsided food, travel allowances as well as other expenses on top of 82k salary. Why aren't they thinking creatively how they could pay for their own food and travel out of 82k....or do more hours, or take one of the million other jobs that keep being advertised if they're finding themselves struggling..?Hmm
To be fair though the subsidies benefit the junior members of staff too, those who wouldn't be able to otherwise afford to live or work in Central London. You could pay them a higher wage, but there needs to be some difference between what someone starting out and what an MP gets, £82k is a high wage, but not compared to other jobs with similar levels of responsibility etc.
LadyWithLapdog · 09/10/2021 14:43

@Upsielazyin what job can you totally duck up your remit - as the Tories are currently doing - and still keep the nice £82k plus benefits job?

itsgettingwierd · 09/10/2021 15:43

I watched her on GMB. She was just as ridiculous!

March 2020. We heard all about how "keyworkers" were keeping things going. The public transport workers, shop workers, refuse collectors, cleaners (especially in hospital, care and educational settings), delivery drivers so people didn't have to go to shops, TAs running keyworker provision on site. Carers camping in care homes gardens to prevent spread. (I'm sure I've missed many)

All these low paid apparently low and unskilled jobs. These people were hailed publicly by the politicians for what they did.

Roll on October 2021. They should unskilled and get better paid jobs.

Makes me wonder who they then think will do these vital jobs and keep the country going Confused

It's not about what job you do - it's about the pose at the top getting the countries finances sorted so wages and cost of living are balanced.

And them stopping people with vital jobs feeling their job isn't worth it. I'm pretty sure if they didn't have their cleaning people, ironing services and food deliveries they'd soon be pretty pissed off!

Siriisatwat · 09/10/2021 15:49

@itsgettingwierd

I watched her on GMB. She was just as ridiculous!

March 2020. We heard all about how "keyworkers" were keeping things going. The public transport workers, shop workers, refuse collectors, cleaners (especially in hospital, care and educational settings), delivery drivers so people didn't have to go to shops, TAs running keyworker provision on site. Carers camping in care homes gardens to prevent spread. (I'm sure I've missed many)

All these low paid apparently low and unskilled jobs. These people were hailed publicly by the politicians for what they did.

Roll on October 2021. They should unskilled and get better paid jobs.

Makes me wonder who they then think will do these vital jobs and keep the country going Confused

It's not about what job you do - it's about the pose at the top getting the countries finances sorted so wages and cost of living are balanced.

And them stopping people with vital jobs feeling their job isn't worth it. I'm pretty sure if they didn't have their cleaning people, ironing services and food deliveries they'd soon be pretty pissed off!

Yeah, we’re back to being uneducated idiots now. Especially the ones who don’t want to be forced to take a vaccine to keep a minimum wage job.
itsgettingwierd · 09/10/2021 15:51

@theliverpoolone

Those of us working in education admin can't ask our employer for a pay rise as the govt has frozen the education pay scales. I guess its too much to expect the Tories to see how it's actually them we'd be asking for a pay rise and they've already said no....Hmm
That's a really good point.

They also told the nhs staff who've been clapped weekly for their covid efforts to go swing for an inflation matching pay rise.

Upsielazy · 09/10/2021 15:55

[quote LadyWithLapdog]@Upsielazyin what job can you totally duck up your remit - as the Tories are currently doing - and still keep the nice £82k plus benefits job?[/quote]
Are you being serious? Haha bless.

prettybird · 09/10/2021 15:55

As I ranted said to dh while fuming about Eggswina : just who do they think will wipe the bums of people in care homes if all the care workers decamp to fictitious better paid jobs? HmmConfusedAngry

I totally agree that care assistants should be paid better but as the Government still hasn't sorted out Social Care, then NMW is what they get paid Sad

StarCat2020 · 09/10/2021 16:07

I think there is a point to be made though - plenty of people on UC are in work, but is it the 16 hours per week or is it full time work? I'm a single mum too, I know plenty of people who choose to work around 16 hours per week and they could easily do more

Who are you to decide what other people could and couldn't be doing?

StarCat2020 · 09/10/2021 16:09

SORRY FOR REPEATING MY EARLIER POST BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THE POINT

UC was "uplifted" so that it didn't look so shit if any new claimants needed it.

In 1980 Supplementary Benefit was £26.80 and rent and rates fully paid on top.

£26.80 (1980) adjusted for inflation is a few pence short of £118.

Sorry meant to add equivalent amount of UC today is around £75

Thank you

Dailywalk · 09/10/2021 16:16

I heard that interview too. I’m normally quite a fan of Jeremy Vine but I was really disappointed he didn’t pick her up on any of her stupid comments.

Her suggestions to ask for a pay rise or even a car are ridiculous! Or that grandparents are usually more than happy to help! Given that my kids only have one grandparent still alive and she lives 60 miles away, her suggestions are not only thoughtless but insulting too.

LadyWithLapdog · 09/10/2021 16:18

JV is a wind-up merchant, on a par with half of those on LBC.

Fizbosshoes · 09/10/2021 16:44

JV is a wind-up merchant, on a par with half of those on LBC.

I agree - last week almost every day he was talking about people panic buying fuel* and I just kept thinking he's literally encouraging it by going on about it daily! He did exactly the same last year when people were panic buying toilet roll.

*I know not everyone buying fuel was panic buying

OP posts:
StarCat2020 · 09/10/2021 16:47

I know not everyone buying fuel was panic buying

I doubt anyone except the jerry canners were panic buying.

Yet again, trying to divide people (JV).

If he buys petrol, it is necessary but if you do it is "panic buying".

TracyBeakerSoYeah · 09/10/2021 17:04

Well you shouldn't expect any less from the idiot who almost decimated the egg industry with her 'British eggs are probably infected with Salmonella' statement.
Eggwina is to stupid to be a policitian & should be thrown out the Tory party, but she won't as 'she's a yes how high do you want me to jump person'

LadyWithLapdog · 09/10/2021 17:27

JV has that faux-concerned enquiring voice when it’s all about getting stuff out of people and keeping his show going. I mean I know you can’t take on all the problems of the world and sometimes the compassion is an act, I just dislike him very much.

CovidCorvid · 09/10/2021 17:54

Most grannies are still working due to later pension age, rising cost of living and general levels of poverty. So can’t help out with childcare. Bloody clueless.

IpanemaPeaHen · 09/10/2021 18:12

I heard that and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. She was so wrong and condescending and why is she being wheeled out at all?

vickibee · 09/10/2021 19:48

I can’t believe that we have a Tory MP for the first time in decades, think South Yorkshire mining area, a lot of people have utter contempt for tory policy. I hope it is a blip it was a get brexit done vote
There is speculation for a 2023 election let’s make sure we get out and vote this lot out.
As a society we have a duty of care to look after the vulnerable and less privileged people, it makes for a better society all round.

Graphista · 09/10/2021 20:36

@vickibee I too am utterly astounded at voting Tory in areas like yours that are STILL decimated after the last time they were in! I really don't understand it even with brexit, Labour were hardly coming out as anti Brexit!

On paper I'm a lifelong Labour person, in reality I'm a floating voter but never Tory. It was new Labour saw me stop voting Labour never trusted Blair even before what he really was became apparent to many.

Labour are STILL a mess at the moment and really need to get their house in order or they'll implode keir is a disaster a wannabe Blair without the charisma or charm and inability to make a declarative sentence apparently! His fence sitting is quite something!

Even aside from the fact that ideologically they're supposed to be different to the tories, in terms of winning votes surely it makes sense to offer an alternative and not "more of the same just watered down"

On another thread a few of us think Labour will go soon, hopefully to be replaced with a socialist party that is in touch with working class lives.

None of the major parties have a clue about real life at the moment!

vickibee · 09/10/2021 20:43

@Graphista
I feel more of a connection with Angela Radnor than keir starter. He is such a wey lettuce. Doesn't seem to have any conviction.
I think Raynor could alienate potential voters saying tory scum . We need to win over voters thar vote blue now if Labour are to stand any chance.

ssd · 09/10/2021 20:46

I'm in Glasgow, we can't believe so many northern English places voted tory. Its utterly unbelievable watching people who will be decimated due to tory policies, merrily saying how they voted tory and support boris now. What happened to them, was it just brexit?
I know labour is now shit but so many people actually believed this right wing government was on their side. When the truth still is they wouldn't spit on them if they were on fire.

Fizbosshoes · 09/10/2021 20:47

I won't vote Tory any millenia time soon, and I voted Labour in the last election because I thought the local candidate was the strongest, and most in touch with pressing local issues....but at present the Labour Party don't exactly inspire confidence....

OP posts:
ssd · 09/10/2021 20:47

Im know theres eedgits up here too BTW

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