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| George Osborne 'cynical' to link Philpott case with welfare cuts, says Ed Balls | George Osborne 'cynical' to link Philpott case with welfare cuts, says Ed Balls |
| (6 months later) | |
| George Osborne was accused of a demeaning attempt to use the killing of six children by Mick Philpott to bolster the Conservatives' case that the welfare state is subsidising inappropriate lifestyles. | George Osborne was accused of a demeaning attempt to use the killing of six children by Mick Philpott to bolster the Conservatives' case that the welfare state is subsidising inappropriate lifestyles. |
| In what is turning into a bitter row over welfare reform, Labour accused the chancellor of overstepping the boundary of decency by implying there is a connection between welfare and the crimes committed by Philpott. | In what is turning into a bitter row over welfare reform, Labour accused the chancellor of overstepping the boundary of decency by implying there is a connection between welfare and the crimes committed by Philpott. |
| A judge at Nottingham crown court yesterday gave Philpott a life sentence, for the killing of his children in a house fire, saying he should serve a minimum of 15 years in jail. | A judge at Nottingham crown court yesterday gave Philpott a life sentence, for the killing of his children in a house fire, saying he should serve a minimum of 15 years in jail. |
| Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, in probably his strongest worded personal assault on Osborne, said: "Chancellors have to think very carefully before they comment on the issues of the day. How they do so says a lot about the character of their chancellorship. | Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, in probably his strongest worded personal assault on Osborne, said: "Chancellors have to think very carefully before they comment on the issues of the day. How they do so says a lot about the character of their chancellorship. |
| "That is why I believe George Osborne's calculated decision to use the shocking and vile crimes of Mick Philpott to advance a political argument is the cynical act of a desperate chancellor. For the chancellor to link this wider debate to this shocking crime is nasty and divisive and demeans his office." | "That is why I believe George Osborne's calculated decision to use the shocking and vile crimes of Mick Philpott to advance a political argument is the cynical act of a desperate chancellor. For the chancellor to link this wider debate to this shocking crime is nasty and divisive and demeans his office." |
| Osborne's remarks follow explicit calls from the rightwing media and some Tory MPs to cut back on child benefit for larger families. | Osborne's remarks follow explicit calls from the rightwing media and some Tory MPs to cut back on child benefit for larger families. |
| After making a speech on welfare this week, Osborne said during a visit to Derby that there were wider lessons from Philpott's behaviour. "Philpott is responsible for these absolutely horrendous crimes and these are crimes that have shocked the nation; the courts are responsible for sentencing him. But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state – and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state – subsidising lifestyles like that, and I think that debate needs to be had." | After making a speech on welfare this week, Osborne said during a visit to Derby that there were wider lessons from Philpott's behaviour. "Philpott is responsible for these absolutely horrendous crimes and these are crimes that have shocked the nation; the courts are responsible for sentencing him. But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state – and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state – subsidising lifestyles like that, and I think that debate needs to be had." |
| The Conservatives said his remarks were legitimate comment and followed reports that Philpott was able to claim along with his partners £54,253 annually through benefits. | The Conservatives said his remarks were legitimate comment and followed reports that Philpott was able to claim along with his partners £54,253 annually through benefits. |
| But Labour claimed they were intentionally divisive remarks that seek to build popular support for the welfare cuts being imposed this week by using a wholly exceptional case to demonise claimants. | But Labour claimed they were intentionally divisive remarks that seek to build popular support for the welfare cuts being imposed this week by using a wholly exceptional case to demonise claimants. |
| The Daily Mail earlier had said Philpott bred the children to "milk" the benefits system and said he "embodies everything that is wrong with the welfare state". | The Daily Mail earlier had said Philpott bred the children to "milk" the benefits system and said he "embodies everything that is wrong with the welfare state". |
| The Times also said it was "time to look again at [work and pensions secretary] Iain Duncan Smith's suggestion that child benefit be capped or limited to the first two children. That would simply be to apply the rules that govern the conduct of everyone else." | The Times also said it was "time to look again at [work and pensions secretary] Iain Duncan Smith's suggestion that child benefit be capped or limited to the first two children. That would simply be to apply the rules that govern the conduct of everyone else." |
| The proposal to cap child benefit was blocked by the Liberal Democrats and may now be revived in the Tory election manifesto. Labour is acutely aware that popular opinion is largely fed up with what it regards as a something-for- nothing culture, although figures from the Department of Work and Pensions and obtained through a freedom-of-information request, show that there are just 180 families in Britain with more than 10 children who are dependent on benefits. | The proposal to cap child benefit was blocked by the Liberal Democrats and may now be revived in the Tory election manifesto. Labour is acutely aware that popular opinion is largely fed up with what it regards as a something-for- nothing culture, although figures from the Department of Work and Pensions and obtained through a freedom-of-information request, show that there are just 180 families in Britain with more than 10 children who are dependent on benefits. |
| Child benefit has already been withdrawn from higher rate taxpayers. It is paid at £20.30 a week for the eldest child and an additional £13.40 for every subsequent child. | Child benefit has already been withdrawn from higher rate taxpayers. It is paid at £20.30 a week for the eldest child and an additional £13.40 for every subsequent child. |
| David Davis, the leading Conservative rightwing MP, said it was unwise to build a policy on a single case, but claimed that as many as one or two in 100 parents were having an extra child due to the prospect of child benefit. | David Davis, the leading Conservative rightwing MP, said it was unwise to build a policy on a single case, but claimed that as many as one or two in 100 parents were having an extra child due to the prospect of child benefit. |
| Balls said: "Millions of people, including pensioners and the disabled, people in work and out of work, receive benefits and tax credits. They will be as shocked and disgusted by the callous killing of these children as anyone else in Britain." | Balls said: "Millions of people, including pensioners and the disabled, people in work and out of work, receive benefits and tax credits. They will be as shocked and disgusted by the callous killing of these children as anyone else in Britain." |
| The Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert also condemned attempts to blame the deaths on the welfare state. He said "Mick Philpott's behaviour was clearly awful, and he deserved the sentence he got. However, it is completely misleading to blame his actions on the welfare state." | The Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert also condemned attempts to blame the deaths on the welfare state. He said "Mick Philpott's behaviour was clearly awful, and he deserved the sentence he got. However, it is completely misleading to blame his actions on the welfare state." |
| • This article was amended on 5 April 2013. The original said that Philpott was able to claim along with his partners £54,253 annually through child benefit. That figure is said to be the total sum claimed from benefits, including child benefit. This has been corrected. | • This article was amended on 5 April 2013. The original said that Philpott was able to claim along with his partners £54,253 annually through child benefit. That figure is said to be the total sum claimed from benefits, including child benefit. This has been corrected. |
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