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Nick Clegg: Lib Dems agree unemployed should work for benefits Nick Clegg: Lib Dems agree unemployed should work for benefits
(35 minutes later)
Nick Clegg revealed the Liberal Democrats support George's Osborne's plans to make the long-term unemployed work for their dole and said he was prepared to look at withdrawing benefits from under-25s if they refuse an opportunity to take a job or training. Nick Clegg has revealed the Liberal Democrats support George's Osborne's plans to make the long-term unemployed work for their dole and said he is prepared to look at withdrawing benefits from under-25s if they refuse an opportunity to take a job or training.
He said his party still opposed withdrawing housing benefit from all under-25s whether they were in work or not, an idea canvassed by the Tories during the spending round last year, but vetoed by the Lib Dems.He said his party still opposed withdrawing housing benefit from all under-25s whether they were in work or not, an idea canvassed by the Tories during the spending round last year, but vetoed by the Lib Dems.
LBC's Call Clegg phone-in show heard the benefit withdrawal plans announced at Tory conference criticised by a leftwing Liberal Democrat, Linda Jack, who has been pressing the party leadership on Twitter for days to say if it supports workfare. She believes it is illiberal and demonises benefit claimants at a time of high unemployment. LBC's Call Clegg phone-in show heard the benefit withdrawal plans announced at the Tory conference criticised by a leftwing Liberal Democrat, Linda Jack, who has been pressing the party leadership on Twitter for days to say if it supports workfare. She believes it is illiberal and demonises benefit claimants at a time of high unemployment.
Clegg said he supported the idea that some claimants who have been on the work programme for two years to work for their dole, the proposal launched under the title "help for work" by Osborne in his conference speech. Clegg said he supported the idea that some claimants who had been on the work programme for two years should work for their dole, the proposal launched under the title "help for work" by Osborne in his conference speech.
Referring to those that have been on the work programme for two years, Clegg said: "One attitude is to say you let them drift off. What the government is saying is you cannot turn your back on these people. You have got to give them very intensive support, training, personalised support, get them in every day because clearly something has gone wrong if they have not been able to find work for two years and they are able to work. This is not a benefit cut. Referring to those that have been on the work programme for two years, Clegg said: "One attitude is to say you let them drift off. What the government is saying is you cannot turn your back on these people. You have got to give them very intensive support, training, personalised support, get them in every day because clearly something has gone wrong if they have not been able to find work for two years and they are able to work. This is not a benefit cut."
Referring to plans to withdraw benefits from under-25s not in work, education or training, outlined by David Cameron in his conference speech, he said similar principles already apply with the youth contract, a scheme in which the young unemployed are required to take work at wages subsidised by the state. Referring to plans to withdraw benefits from under-25s not in work, education or training, outlined by David Cameron in his conference speech, he said similar principles already applied with the youth contract, a scheme in which the young unemployed are required to take work at wages subsidised by the state.
He said: "I think everybody agrees that if you can help it, you don't want youngsters on benefits, you want them either being active or earning or learning."He said: "I think everybody agrees that if you can help it, you don't want youngsters on benefits, you want them either being active or earning or learning."
Referring to the youth contract, he said: "Here's the big thing – and this is already in the rules by the way and I'm a big supporter of this – if you don't take those opportunities up, don't expect you can go back home and just sit on benefits. You can't just say, 'I'm going to cross my arms, sit on my sofa and not try', let's look at that." Referring to the youth contract, he said: "Here's the big thing – and this is already in the rules by the way and I'm a big supporter of this – if you don't take those opportunities up, don't expect you can go back home and just sit on benefits. You can't just say: 'I'm going to cross my arms, sit on my sofa and not try.' Let's look at that."
He added he was not entirely sure what the Conservatives had in mind, but pointed out that stricter conditionality on jobseekers allowance already existed. He added he was not entirely sure what the Conservatives had in mind, but pointed out that stricter conditionality on jobseeker's allowance already existed.
But he stressed: "I'm not in favour of just blanket removal of people just because they happen to be a certain age." He pointed out he had opposed such a move when it was raised by Conservatives. "What if you're a youngster from Lincoln who's trying to make his or her way in Manchester and you're trying really hard and then suddenly you're having the rug pulled from under your feet.But he stressed: "I'm not in favour of just blanket removal of people just because they happen to be a certain age." He pointed out he had opposed such a move when it was raised by Conservatives. "What if you're a youngster from Lincoln who's trying to make his or her way in Manchester and you're trying really hard and then suddenly you're having the rug pulled from under your feet.
"So I'm all for making sure there's better conditionality so that the incentive to just rely on benefits is minimised.""So I'm all for making sure there's better conditionality so that the incentive to just rely on benefits is minimised."
He also called for more progress to be made on agreeing the 2015 TV leaders' debates, and said he was indifferent about whether UKIP's Nigel Farage was included. He also called for more progress to be made on agreeing the 2015 TV leaders' debates, and said he was indifferent about whether Ukip's Nigel Farage was included.
"At the end of the day, this is for broadcasters to decide as much as anybody else. I'm pretty relaxed about it. I think the idea that we can sort of not have leaders' debates is ridiculous because the cat's out of the bag and I think people thought it was a good thing, it was a good way of comparing how leaders measured up against each other."At the end of the day, this is for broadcasters to decide as much as anybody else. I'm pretty relaxed about it. I think the idea that we can sort of not have leaders' debates is ridiculous because the cat's out of the bag and I think people thought it was a good thing, it was a good way of comparing how leaders measured up against each other.
"I think there was an assumption that what you should have is the leaders of the big parties that are represented in parliament who can actually play a role in governing this country."I think there was an assumption that what you should have is the leaders of the big parties that are represented in parliament who can actually play a role in governing this country.
"I don't think Nigel Farage is making a claim that he's going to suddenly sweep the board and have scores of MPs in Westminster. I'm relatively relaxed about it, I just think it is important that we probably crack on now and the broadcasters get people from David Cameron's office, Ed Miliband's office, from my team to sit down and start sorting out how this will work next time.""I don't think Nigel Farage is making a claim that he's going to suddenly sweep the board and have scores of MPs in Westminster. I'm relatively relaxed about it, I just think it is important that we probably crack on now and the broadcasters get people from David Cameron's office, Ed Miliband's office, from my team to sit down and start sorting out how this will work next time."
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