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| Benefits: Revive 'principle of contribution' says Labour | Benefits: Revive 'principle of contribution' says Labour |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Labour wants to "strengthen the old principle of contribution" in the benefits system, the shadow work and pensions secretary says. | Labour wants to "strengthen the old principle of contribution" in the benefits system, the shadow work and pensions secretary says. |
| Many people "feel they pay an awful lot more in than they ever get back", Liam Byrne wrote in the Observer. | Many people "feel they pay an awful lot more in than they ever get back", Liam Byrne wrote in the Observer. |
| He also said "people who work and contribute to their community" should get priority in social housing. | He also said "people who work and contribute to their community" should get priority in social housing. |
| He criticised recent tax and welfare changes, but David Cameron told the Sun the moves were about "fairness". | He criticised recent tax and welfare changes, but David Cameron told the Sun the moves were about "fairness". |
| In his article, Mr Byrne criticised the coalition for failing to support "working families and those in real need", insisting that Labour's approach to reforming welfare would be "very different". | In his article, Mr Byrne criticised the coalition for failing to support "working families and those in real need", insisting that Labour's approach to reforming welfare would be "very different". |
| Change needed | Change needed |
| "Instead of seeking to divide people, we want to ensure everyone plays their part so we can rebuild Britain together," he said. | "Instead of seeking to divide people, we want to ensure everyone plays their part so we can rebuild Britain together," he said. |
| "There are lots of people right now who feel they pay an awful lot more in than they ever get back." said Mr Byrne. | |
| "That should change. We should start by letting councils give priority in social housing allocations to those who work and contribute to their community." | "That should change. We should start by letting councils give priority in social housing allocations to those who work and contribute to their community." |
| BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Labour had been under pressure to say what it would do to overhaul the welfare system, after criticising many of the government's policies. | BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Labour had been under pressure to say what it would do to overhaul the welfare system, after criticising many of the government's policies. |
| The party's deputy leader, Harriet Harman, said it was "not surprising" that people were concerned about the welfare system and she defended Labour's record on welfare reform. | |
| But she said the party was looking at wider changes based on the contributory principle as part of its policy review. | |
| She told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "We're also, ahead of the general election, putting forward three principles. | |
| "One, that work should pay; secondly, that there should be an obligation to take work; and thirdly, that there should be support through a contributory principle for people putting into the system as well as taking out. | |
| "I think that's the discussion and the debate we're engaging in up to the general election." | |
| She said the results of the review would "come to fruition" in Labour's next manifesto. | |
| The case of unemployed Mick Philpott, who was jailed for the manslaughter of six of his children in a fire, has led some politicians to comment on whether the state should subsidise large families. | |
| Mr Philpott, who had 17 children, received thousands of pounds a year in child benefit, as well as the income support and wages paid to his wife and mistress. | |
| 'Lifestyle choice' | |
| Asked if there should be a cap on the number of children the state would support through benefits Ms Harman said: "I don't think that the state should be dictating family size but I do think that the state should support children." | |
| "Rather than trying to encourage women to have children or discourage them from having children, I think its important to actually support children who are born into a family. But also to make sure women and men are in a position to make proper choices about their families." | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Cameron told the Sun the welfare system had lost its way and benefits had become a "lifestyle choice" for some - causing resentment. | Meanwhile, Mr Cameron told the Sun the welfare system had lost its way and benefits had become a "lifestyle choice" for some - causing resentment. |
| He insisted it was "crazy" that certain claimants could have a bigger income on benefits than if they had a job. | He insisted it was "crazy" that certain claimants could have a bigger income on benefits than if they had a job. |
| "So this month we are making some big changes," he added. | "So this month we are making some big changes," he added. |
| "They are changes that have a simple principle at their heart: we are restoring the fairness that should lie at the very heart of our tax and welfare systems." | "They are changes that have a simple principle at their heart: we are restoring the fairness that should lie at the very heart of our tax and welfare systems." |
| This week, a series of changes to benefits and taxes have come into force. | This week, a series of changes to benefits and taxes have come into force. |
| Most tax credits and working age benefits are being increased by 1% - below the rate of inflation - while pensioners are getting a larger rise in the state pension, which is going up by 2.5% to £110 a week. | Most tax credits and working age benefits are being increased by 1% - below the rate of inflation - while pensioners are getting a larger rise in the state pension, which is going up by 2.5% to £110 a week. |
| On Saturday, the personal allowance - which is the amount that most people can earn before they pay income tax - rose to £9,440. | On Saturday, the personal allowance - which is the amount that most people can earn before they pay income tax - rose to £9,440. |
| And the top rate of income tax was also reduced from 50p in the pound to 45p for people with incomes of more than £150,000. | And the top rate of income tax was also reduced from 50p in the pound to 45p for people with incomes of more than £150,000. |
| Also from 6 April, the amount pensioners can earn without paying tax will no longer rise with inflation, giving rise to accusations of a "granny tax". | Also from 6 April, the amount pensioners can earn without paying tax will no longer rise with inflation, giving rise to accusations of a "granny tax". |