Sanctions on poor are no choice at all

THE war on the poor seems to have no end. From cuts and reforms to sanctions, the Tory welfare shake-up has been a relentless creator of misery and despair.

Now the UK Government are reminding claimants that sanctions can be imposed just for refusing to apply for an exploitative zero-hours contract.

So there’s your choice in modern Tory Britain:

Get penalised for being out of work or get penalised for trying to avoid being stuck on poverty wages with unpredictable hours. Some choice. Citizens Advice are worried about Universal Credit.

Poverty charities have been demanding the Tories fix the system even though it’s not properly up and running yet.

And at the sharp end, the shameful real-life experiences keep on coming.

In Scotland, where limited control is held on social security, some big promises have been made.

The sanctions regime won’t be applied in the same way and work schemes will be kept voluntary.

But real action has to be taken at UK Government level. They need to realise their regime appears set up to help people fail.

Talk of scroungers is misplaced and insulting.

The vast majority of people on benefits don’t want to be there.

They want a job – not to be pushed further into the red for trying.