Some jokes write themselves...

[DanaC]

A local MP I know in passing has just been suspended from the Labour party for claiming £13k in mortgage assistance on a property that no longer had a mortgage. He'd paid off his mortgage already. That's two Labour party MPs being suspended for claiming mortgage payments on properties with no mortgage.

I really don't give a toss about dogfood, chandeliers, or even moats (except for the humour of that one). I really do give a damn about people who stand over us, and legislate for us - including swinging measures against the most minor benefit fraud - defrauding thousands of pounds.

What really pisses me off about this is...these people are comfortable enough to have paid off their mortgages and then steal money. I recently represented a lad to the benefits assessment enquiry team. After a year of unemployment he'd managed (after a few false starts on stoopit courses) to get a full time permanent job. He's a young guy, with mild learning difficulties but he managed to nail himself a half way decent job. He went from the interview to the jobcentre and ended his claim. Was told they'd do the rest.

When they didnt do the rest, he got a bill for two months housing benefit, and then was made to go in and be interviewed, under caution, suspected of fraud. he told them what had happened. They denied it. He got letters telling him he could either go to court and be prosecuted for fraud, or accept a liability penalty of £90 which would stand as an admission of guilt, but not lead to prosecution (whatever the fuck that means).

He was fortunate in that he personally knows a couple of local politicians including the MP. It took several letters and this poor lad having to explain himself many times. They eventually decided it was an administration error.

All that for £250 that crossed over during a change from benefit claim to work.

This MP needs to answer some questions. But I bet he won't be treated as shabbily by those asking the questions, as my friend was, and as I have no doubt, you or I would be if we failed to follow every last unknown procedure.

The speed with which our benefit agencies leap to prosecution and scare tactics (most of the letters, including the one about the penalty option, were standard letters) is a product of the state that creates/manages/governs it. The same parliamentarians who have successively contributed to the creation of an unforgiving and distant attitude to the unemployed, or otherwise economically vulnerable, within the state apparatus created to meet their needs have applied a significantly lower set of limits to their own behaviour.