Douglas Carswell's Blog

The case for benefit reform is overwhelming

54 percent of those aged 16 - 64 in Pier ward in Clacton in my constituency are on benefit, according to a report out by the Centre for Social Justice.

Having over half of those of working age living on benefit in an Essex seaside town cannot possibly be what Clem Attlee and co had in mind all those years ago when they set up the welfare state. We have got to change the benefit system.

I have held dozens of MP advice surgeries in Pier ward. Many of those that feature in this report as a statistic are people that I know by name.  I know all about many of the daft decisions officialdom sometimes makes. But the case for change is overwhelming.

We need to do much more to encourage those that are able to work back into work. There were over 270 job vacancies in the Job Centre last time I was in there.

The council has already taken action to prevent benefit migrants coming into the area to live on welfare. In April, a new residency test came into force, meaning that unless you have lived locally for several years, you won't qualify for certain benefits. Those wanting social housing are now moved higher up the list if they are in work.

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