[Politics] Tory meltdown finally arrived [was: incoming]...

[dsr-burnley]

The individual in question advised that he’d been to the DWP, and they’d advised him that because the child was registered at the GP against the child’s mothers address, and went to a nursery where the child’s mother was the “main” person on the account, and the child’s mother was in receipt of the Child Benefit, they wouldn’t take the child into consideration when calculating benefits.

I advised him to question this, but subsequently found this is current government policy, there is no provision for shared custody. As such, his entitlement to benefits was zero. (I agree even half of the £130 would help)

It feels to me that the slow creep of living costs has already obliterated any safety net, that this guy is going to need the food bank at least once by autumn. I can’t imagine telling him that it’s because he’s failed to manage his own affairs properly though. The guy’s done everything he’s supposed to have done.

The child benefit should certainly be shared. It's a standard thing that shared custody gets shared child benefit, isn't it? And if that's sorted, might he be back on the right track?

But a man being failed by a benefits system that isn't working properly is a different issue than a person being failed because the system isn't there. In this case study, if the admin was sorted, he should be able to pay his debts and have a bit to spare. It might be current practice that if a child is in joint custody, one of the parents gets no benefit at all for that child; but it can't be government policy, surely. Is there a competent or interested MP in the building?

 

[A1X]

Well that's Johnson well and truly painted into a corner. Literally the only way he could come out of it well was if Starmer had also obfuscated if fined, this takes that option away.

 

[dsr-burnley]

Energy is needed for electricity, or are you saying this person cannot even have an oven, tv or microwave? Would you really want to eat bread and jam every single day?
The £695 rent is a low estimate. The house next door but one to me over a grand a month rent. I couldn't even afford to rent my own house now. Council tax is £182 a month.

You've misunderstood - probably deliberately. But for the record, when I said that £140 per month might be reduced by heating the house less, I wasn't meaning that they must do without power altogether.

And when I said that if 1 in 21 has no money at all, not even 55p to buy bread and jam, on a single day per month (I think we can presume the last before payday) was down to more than poverty, that wasn't a suggestion that people should eat bread and jam every day. Again, it's a weird misunderstanding that suggests you might not have really read the post? It's more of a suggestion that people who are so short of cash and credit could perhaps make savings earlier in the month to avoid being quite so desperate; and if they haven't done that, then something more is wrong than purely money shortages.

 

[dsr-burnley]

Can I ask which benefits you believe the case study is eligible for?

In normal circumstances, universal credit. Usernamed has explained the problem.

 

[BBassic]

Your bluff well and truly called, Big Dog. Don't see any positives from this for the Tories now they are past the elections. Either he is not guilty and stays with the moral high ground or goes showing Big Dog how to do it and maybe meaning Labour get in someone with a bit of charisma.

Charisma is over-rated. Johnson is charismatic.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

A brave move by Keir Starmer, possibly risky, but he's completely turned the whole thing on its head. Tory press / media are now complaining that he's done this. Johnson is in a really tight spot now.

 

[BLOCK F]

Your bluff well and truly called, Big Dog. Don't see any positives from this for the Tories now they are past the elections. Either he is not guilty and stays with the moral high ground or goes showing Big Dog how to do it and maybe meaning Labour get in someone with a bit of charisma.

Tory voter here.
The possible positive for the Tories( well, sensible Tories like me) is that even Johnson may be forced to resign, and if so, this would pave the way for a proper politician to take over the leadership.
Personally, I would love that to happen, as Johnson is the worst thing to happen to the Tory party and an abysmal failure as a PM.
As for Sir Keir, I would genuinely feel for the fellow if he were forced to resign, but politics is a rough old game as they say. I do sometimes wonder whether his heart really is in politics and feel ,with his brain, he could surely find his public service niche away from frontline politics.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

You've misunderstood - probably deliberately. But for the record, when I said that £140 per month might be reduced by heating the house less, I wasn't meaning that they must do without power altogether.

And when I said that if 1 in 21 has no money at all, not even 55p to buy bread and jam, on a single day per month (I think we can presume the last before payday) was down to more than poverty, that wasn't a suggestion that people should eat bread and jam every day. Again, it's a weird misunderstanding that suggests you might not have really read the post? It's more of a suggestion that people who are so short of cash and credit could perhaps make savings earlier in the month to avoid being quite so desperate; and if they haven't done that, then something more is wrong than purely money shortages.

You're right, I didn't read the previous posts, but everyone except for a few, is only six months wages away from ruin. Illness, disability, death of a partner, loss of a job can happen at any time.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Tory voter here.
The possible positive for the Tories is that even Johnson may be forced to resign, and if so, this would pave the way for a proper politician to take over the leadership.
Personally, I would love that to happen, as Johnson is the worst thing to happen to the Tory party and an abysmal failure as a PM.
As for Sir Keir, I would genuinely feel for the fellow if he were forced to resign, but politics is a rough old game as they say. I do sometimes wonder whether his heart really is in politics and feel ,with his brain, he could possibly find his public service niche away from frontline politics.

Who would you choose?

 

[A1X]

[tweet]1523627163546705925[/tweet]

 

[BLOCK F]

Who would you choose?

Hi Thunder,
I would have to give that some more thought, but safe to say, could anyone be worse than Johnson?
One person I wouldn’t want is Liz Truss, I think she is slightly bonkers.

 

[darkwolf666]

In normal circumstances, universal credit. Usernamed has explained the problem.

Apologies, I hadn't seen username's reply.

Unfortunately I have fallen foul of a similar situation when I had joint care of my children with my ex wife. Despite them living with me 50% of the time I wasn't able to get any help with my rent, child tax credits or child benefit as my wife claimed those and it couldn't be shared.

Granted this was 15 years ago, so things may have changed, although I doubt it...

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Hi Thunder,
I would have to give that some more thought, but safe to say, could anyone be worse than Johnson?
One person I wouldn’t want is Liz Truss, I think she is slightly bonkers.

I think Ben Wallace is decent as are Rory Stewart and Dominic Grieve. It would mean a complete shake up of the cabinet, who I suspect are there simply because of their loyalty to Johnson. They're not there because of their competance.

 

[nicko31]

Where's the Sue Gray report?

 

[KZNSeagull]

I think Ben Wallace is decent as are Rory Stewart and Dominic Grieve. It would mean a complete shake up of the cabinet, who I suspect are there simply because of their loyalty to Johnson. They're not there because of their competance.

Rory Stewart isn't an MP anymore - he is doing charity work in Jordan (the country, before anyone makes any smutty insinuations)

 

[dsr-burnley]

Apologies, I hadn't seen username's reply.

Unfortunately I have fallen foul of a similar situation when I had joint care of my children with my ex wife. Despite them living with me 50% of the time I wasn't able to get any help with my rent, child tax credits or child benefit as my wife claimed those and it couldn't be shared.

Granted this was 15 years ago, so things may have changed, although I doubt it...

That is definitely something that is wrong and should be put right. Though if it hasn't been put right in 15 years, then it doesn't look like it's a priority.

 

[pb21]

Where's the Sue Gray report?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Pretty big win for Labour, this.

If Starmer is fined he goes - which is somewhat sad as he is a good man.

But it opens the door for someone like Burnham to take over and it paints Johnson into a terrible corner.

The Law of Unintended Consequences absolutely smashes the Tory smear.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Rory Stewart isn't an MP anymore - he is doing charity work in Jordan (the country, before anyone makes any smutty insinuations)

Yes, I know but I was giving examples of what I believe Conservatives were before this UKIP lot took over.

Edited to add a tweet I have just seen

[tweet]1523663973455118336[/tweet]

 

[TomandJerry]

Gary Neville

@GNev2

This is a great speech from @Keir_Starmer that restores faith. Over to you liar!

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