Here are ten pretty dramatic assertions about how Labour has affected the welfare of the poor during its twelve years in power. They are extracted from an article by Fraser Nelson in the The Spectator:

1. "Even by Labour’s favourite measure, the Gini index, which measures income gaps across various countries, inequality is at a record high — towering above the levels seen in the Thatcher years."

2. "Scandalously, the poorest 10 per cent now have a disposable income of £87 a week, down from £96 a week eight years ago."

3. "Foreign-born workers account for all net job creation in the private sector since 1997. That is to say, strip out the public sector and there are fewer British-born people in work now than in 1997."

4. "As for youth unemployment, that is now a third higher than when Labour took office."

5. "At no point since Labour came to power has the number on out- of-work benefits fallen below five million."

6. "Of these working-age people, 1.1 million — equivalent to the population of a city the size of Birmingham — have never worked a day in the Labour years."

7. "International surveys show school standards are declining, with the poorest hit worst."

8. "Studies set up in the early Labour years to track progress have in fact tracked decline."

9. "Infant mortality gaps between the rich and poor have — quite extraordinarily — widened under Labour."

10. "Ditto the gulf in life expectancy."

These points are mentioned almost casually in his article. But each is powerful. Assuming they are true, should be far better known. Television and radio interviewers should all be sent a copy to put the points to Labour ministers when they are crowing about their supposed successes. Tory shadows should repeat them frequently.

I would be glad if it were possible to have links to the sources of the data supporting these assertions. Fraser Nelson says in his article: "none of the above figures have [sic] been published by the government - this magazine lodged a request for their release".
It would be good if he would put the sources up online so the assertions could be repeated with confidence.

But the big point, which he makes well, is this: "The Prime Minister's greatest contribution to convervatism... has been to test to destruction the idea that money solves social problems."

And again, "Mr Brown's government spent like no other, and was socially regressive."

Posted by James Bartholomew • Indexed in Education • General • Parenting • Welfare benefits

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