About this episode
The episode discusses Britain's welfare system and its implications on fairness and the working poor.
Has Britain become a freeloader’s paradise, asks the Spectator ’s economics editor Michael Simmons in our cover piece this week. Michael analyses ‘the benefits of benefits’, at a time when Britain’s welfare bill is burgeoning and most households are struggling with cost of living. For example, while a family of four can expect to pay £111 to visit the Tower of London, that is just £4 total on Universal Credit (UC), and for London Zoo it is £108 compared to £26. Michael is not arguing against the idea of helping those in need, but pointing out that – as the benefits bill continues to increase – this is another case of governments prioritising ‘welfare over work’ and ultimately squeezing the working poor. And the problem is set to continue: ‘we are nowhere near peak welfare’ Michael warns. Is the system fair? On this week’s Edition , Lara Prendergast is joined by Michael, assistant content editor William Atkinson and political commentator – and founder of Conservative Home , Tim Montgomerie. William argues that such discounts are part of the ‘infantilisation’ of those on UC and that there has been a systematic failure to confront the structural issues preventing people from…
People in this episode
Host: Lara Prendergast
Guests: Michael Simmons, William Atkinson, Tim Montgomerie
Topics covered
- welfare system
- cost of living
- economic commentary
- fairness in society
- political debate
- benefits analysis
Keywords
- welfare
- benefits
- cost of living
- fairness
- politics
- economics
- Universal Credit
- Triple Lock
- freeloaders
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Spectator, Conservative Home
Places: Britain, London
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