UK politician would live on £53pw benefit

snubbleste

The UK's Social Protection minister, Iain Duncan Smith, was challenged by a journalist if he could live (not survive or function) on the jobseekers allowance for under-25s.
The rate is £56, but the journalist mistakenly asked about £53/€68.
The minister said he would live on this if he had to.
Iain Duncan Smith: I could live on £53 in benefits a week

Why don't journalists writers here pose a similar query to Joan Burton or any other minister? Why the reluctance to challenge policy-enforcers?

Yitzhak Rabin

Because I'd rather politicians focussed on getting the economy back on track than engaging in cheap political stunts.

Also a minister generally works extremely hard, has a very difficult job and is under constant media scrutiny.

A person on the dole spends their time scratching themselves, putting bets on the races and drinking cans of Karpackie.

guinnessdrinker

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

A person on the dole spends their time scratching themselves, putting bets on the races and drinking cans of Karpackie.

Is this your view of the people that are on the dole or do you think government ministers share this view?

Yitzhak Rabin

guinnessdrinker wrote: »

Is this your view of the people that are on the dole or do you think government ministers share this view?

I suppose its not always Karpackie. Sometimes it can be Harp, Dutch Gold or Bavaria.

Pappa Charlie

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

Because I'd rather politicians focussed on getting the economy back on track than engaging in cheap political stunts.

Also a minister generally works extremely hard, has a very difficult job and is under constant media scrutiny.

A person on the dole spends their time scratching themselves, putting bets on the races and drinking cans of Karpackie.

You are a first class wanker!

HondaSami

snubbleste wrote: »

Why don't journalists writers here pose a similar query to Joan Burton or any other minister? Why the reluctance to challenge policy-enforcers?

What's the point in asking them it's not as if they are going to disagree or actually try do it.
We can all survive on little money if we have too, it's not rocket science after all.

Annasopra

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

A person on the dole spends their time scratching themselves, putting bets on the races and drinking cans of Karpackie.

You'r talking absolute shite here but do go on....

coffee_cake

snubbleste wrote: »

Why don't journalists writers here pose a similar query to Joan Burton or any other minister? Why the reluctance to challenge policy-enforcers?

Didn't someone challenge one of our people to live in some area she'd been slagigng off? Ballymun or something? And she did it too.
Anyone have the details?

Praetorian Saighdiuir

mango salsa wrote: »

You'r talking absolute shite here but do go on....

Not completely. Most of the people I know who are on the dole, do just what Yitzak posted.

Gatling

53pw is easy to live off for a single individual

0ph0rce0

Praetorian Saighdiuir wrote: »

Not completely. Most of the people I know who are on the dole, do just what Yitzak posted.

As does everyone i know that has a job!!! Its called having fun. Whats your point.

4zn76tysfajdxp

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

I suppose its not always Karpackie. Sometimes it can be Harp, Dutch Gold or Bavaria.

Don't be ridiculous. Nobody drinks Harp in the UK. Gotta be Stella.

Yitzhak Rabin

Pappa Charlie wrote: »

You are a first class wanker!

I may have been a tad sarcastic in my post.

Obviously I don't think every single person on the dole spends their time sleeping in til 2pm and drinking cans.

Gatling

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

I may have been a tad sarcastic in my post.

Obviously I don't think every single person on the dole spends their time sleeping in til 2pm and drinking cans.

Don't forget watching Jeremy kyle

4zn76tysfajdxp

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

I may have been a tad sarcastic in my post.

Obviously I don't think every single person on the dole spends their time sleeping in til 2pm and drinking cans.

Just the majority.

HondaSami

Kailyn Vast Baritone wrote: »

Don't be ridiculous. Nobody drinks Harp in the UK. Gotta be Stella.

Nah it's Linden Village.

Praetorian Saighdiuir

0ph0rce0 wrote: »

As does everyone i know that has a job!!! Its called having fun. Whats your point.

You quoted my point.

rugbyman

if IDS could manage on £56 (and he could ,tens of thousands do), he could consider moving a bit Westward and thrive on 185 euros.

Regards,Rugbyman

My name is URL

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

I may have been a tad sarcastic in my post.

Obviously I don't think every single person on the dole spends their time sleeping in til 2pm and drinking cans.

You have been coming across as an awful dicktit lately. Something happen in your own life that you have to belittle others to make yourself feel better?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

What was that phrase? Of yes: "Put the politicians on minimum wage and ssee how fast things change..."

Truncheon Rouge

Yay a dole thread

Yitzhak Rabin

My name is URL wrote: »

You have been coming across as an awful dicktit lately. Something happen in your own life that you have to belittle others to make yourself feel better?

Not quite sure what a dicktit is, but if its a compliment, then thank you.

Life is tip top at the moment. Have the week off work and heading to the Côte d'Azur with my partner for some r n r.

My comment was clearly a parody. You'd want to be crazy to think that every single person drawing social welfare was a bone idle layabout.

Duggys Housemate

I could live pretty well on the Irish dole but I wouldn't be booking too many trips, anywhere even on buses.

£56 is a different kettle of fish. I can feed myself on possibly £30-40, I do cook. But then there's toiletries, clothing, bills, electricity and ( God forbid) the Internet or a phone. I assume that some has to go on rent, even if subsidised.

I can't see anybody living on this unless they are getting some stipends from family. Ireland is ok - the UK is unliveable.

Hitchens

Yitzhak Rabin wrote: »

I may have been a tad sarcastic in my post.

Obviously I don't think every single person on the dole spends their time sleeping in til 2pm and drinking cans.

just married persons then?

mlumley

Gatling wrote: »

53pw is easy to live off for a single individual

Try it then, but in your own accomadation, not at home with mummy.

suicide_circus

In fairness to Yitzhak Rabin's parody, there are 10s of thousands on the dole who do precisely that.

Intensive Care Bear

Gatling wrote: »

53pw is easy to live off for a single individual

No its not, i was on the dole for a couple of months last year (i was getting £56 a week) and it was only the fact that i had savings thats stopped me from getting in serious trouble. Again i paid for my gas, electric, phone and rent (rent allowance only covered just over half my rent) i had to use my savings to buy food and pay for travel ect. I don't know how anyone would choose a life like that.

Annasopra

suicide_circus wrote: »

In fairness to Yitzhak Rabin's parody, there are 10s of thousands on the dole who do precisely that.

Drink Karpachie? who knew?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

suicide_circus wrote: »

In fairness to Yitzhak Rabin's parody, there are 10s of thousands on the dole who do precisely that.

Except he implied it was everyone.

snubbleste

IDS gets £1581.02pw from the taxpayer as a salary
Hopefully an enterprising television reality show producer will take him up on his offer and then he can get his job back under the jobbridge scheme wage equivalent.

Hitchens

if you have a 50 inch flatscreen, an iPad and a cleaner, you're not doing too bad! :cool: