Coalition Cock-Ups

Why is anyone surprised at the remarks by Lord Young? Did you really think that this coalition government has any kind of reality check going on?

Cameron may distance himself from Youngs comments and claim that they are his individual views, yet I've heard Cameron and other coalition ministers use the phrase 'we're all in it together' on several occassions. Now, with the best will in the world, I really don't see how millionaires and overpaid politicians can be 'in it' with those who are thrown out of work. At what point will they be worrying about paying bills or having their houses repossessed (for clarification, Lord Young, if you are unemployed with a mortgage you can't pay it doesn't matter if the interest rate is zero!).

Lets look at some of the other little quirks in the great plan

• They're going to cut the Housing Benefit bill but make social housing landlords raise rent to 80% of market value. Doesn't that mean more housing benefit will need to be paid?
• As thousands of people are being made unemployed, benefits will be cut for those who don't get one of the jobs that aren't there.
• Although there a few jobs to be had, and most are not paying a living wage, and those who don't have one will be expected to pick litter for £1 and hour

And as I've been writing this post, the BBC have just reported that new tenants of social landlords (Housing associations, council housing etc) will be given fixed two year tenancies. At the end of the two years, the landlord will have to assess the tenants income and then, if they are deemed to earn over whatever limit is set, will be given 6 months notice to get out.

So forget sustainable communities - new tenants will have the threat of eviction dangling over them as soon as they arrive, so why care about the community they may shortly be leaving. Forget affordable housing - 80% market rents is not affordable for someone who earns 6 quid an hour. Forget reducing the housing benefit bill - nearly everyone eligible for social housing will not be earning enough to pay market rents (hence the reason they applied for social housing!). Forget downsizing bureaucracy - we'll need to create income checkers and hire many more court bailiffs for the subsequent evictions

And so on............

But Young was partially right. The politicians, bankers and millionaires have never had it so good.