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Labour launches attack on benefit cheats to woo working families
Joe Murphy, Political Editor31.07.09
A crackdown on cheats and scroungers was launched today as Labour tried to revive its support among beleaguered working families.
A blizzard of announcements kicked off with moves to ban fee-paying foreigners from getting organs donated to the NHS.
Other guidelines out today are designed to reassure people that migrants cannot jump the queue for council houses, except on grounds of greater need.
And housing minister John Healey promised action against fraudsters who rent council homes cheaply and sublet them to make money.
On Monday ministers will unveil immigration rules that they claim will stop people coming in who cannot contribute to the economy.
They will also launch a pilot scheme designed to make young people work for benefits.
The Tories dismissed the announcements as gimmicks.
Today's organ transplant rules will only apply to private patients. But EU nationals will still be able to join the NHS waiting list and have treatment.
There are 8,054 people on the organ waiting list - and 1,000 a year die while waiting. But recently it emerged that 50 livers went to foreign private patients over two years, mainly at King's College Hospital and the Royal Free in London. The new housing guidelines were to dispel "myths" rather than change entitlement, the Government said. And they do not bring in powers to prioritise long-term local residents, an idea Gordon Brown suggested last month.
Behind the political skirmish is Labour's concern that recession-hit voters - particularly working parents and the low paid - believe that idlers and cheats get a free ride. Polling has found particular resentment among white working-class voters.
Lord Mandelson, who masterminded the announcements, said they would appeal as "the core values of Middle Britain are rooted in... our dogged sense of fair play."
Reader views (16)
Look at our MPS they tell us how to live but they are more corrupt and sleazy than all benefit cheats get rid of them all
- David Bell, Sunderland
It is about time to get rid of Labour Govt and Labour Councils in next election, if we don't then,I am afraid we are doom.First stop migrant to get free housing, without even paying a penny into the coffers of the treasury.Crack down on benefit cheats is never going to happen, because of Vote Bank.
- Surj, london
"working families" this phrase was used ad nauseum in the Australian elections which the labour party won handsomely - funny how it has now started appearing in UK.
- Mr Pastry, Brisbane
Is this Labour benefit-cheat crackdown #57 or #58? Excuse me if I can't remember how many times I've seen and read this before over the last 11 years. We'll only see any real benefit-cheat crackdown come spring, after Gordo and his pals have finally departed.
- Phil Jones, London UK
The only benefit cheats are the MPs, people will not forget, and they will be punnished in the long run.
- C Cusano, Bedford
This is a lbour ruse they have used time and time again and still some people vote for them they have not changed they will sell their souls to get what they want. This is what Blair did speak as a tory would and tell the people you will do all these things to help them then when they have got what they wanted do the opposite they have been doing this for years tell Mandelson and Brown and the others we have heard all this before and it is not going to work especially over the housing they did say that that was not happening about migrants queue jumping now they have said this then they are admitting that it is happening. Mandelson said some months ago they have to think right wing so this is it but they are the ones that have destroyed everything so people remember that
- Jacqui Williams, peterborough cambs
How hypocritical! The biggest "benefit cheats" are the MPs themselves. All those with "second homes", paid for by tax payers, when they are kicked out of office at the next election must be made sell them and return the proceeds to the treasury. They are a bunch of lying, thieving crooks and I have nothing but utter contempt for them.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
"migrants cannot jump the queue for council houses, except on grounds of greater need". Yeah dont ya know this reason will be exploited to the max by the liberal lefty councils as migrants will still be given preferance over British citizens. Its simple, no benefits of welfare for migrants that do not have work credits e.g. Proof of 3 years of solid work and taxes paid into our system.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
HAHAHA It was labour that created this mess in the first place and now, years later, they are taking credit for cracking down, NA, we all know better.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
Ahhhhh - getting closer to announcing elections are they? Posturing and promises that don't have to be kept will flow thick and ever-faster over the coming months. Labour die-hards will laud them (and then make excuses for their darlings when they are 'forced by circumstances' to put the promised changes on hold if and when they benefit from the lies in the first place).
Yep, the next lot will do the same to some degree (though Labour have it down to a fine art) - but at least there will be a few years of positive benefit for the nation's voters.
- Rogan, Irving
Too late for the political correct Labour government, after all these years of turning a blind eye to this massive scale fraud of sub letting council properties because of fear of causing racial offence.
The sooner we have a General Election the better.
- Joe, Swanley Kent
Can they crack down on immigration while they're at it,that's where a lot of our hard earned is going.
- Steve, London
12 years too late. Cynical, cynical election posturing. Would be interested to see what they put in their mandate this time around. How many promises they would break if they retained power.
Still waiting for my vote on the European Constitution. Oh wait, that involves democracy doesn't it? Something an unelected leader would know bugger all about.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Meddlesum spouts about a "dogged sense of fair play".
WHAT DOES MEDDLESUM KNOW ABOUT FAIR PLAY?
A CRACKDOWN ON CHEATS AND SCROUNGERS IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN IS WHAT JOE PUBLIC NEEDS - NOT MORE SPIN AND WAFFLE FROM MEDDLESUM THE MASTER OF ALL SPIN AND WAFFLE.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
LOL!!!!!! only about 11 years,3 months to late!! Next they'll be saying that they will stop immigration, bring back Grammar Schools,cut the tax burden on the midlle classes, allow councils in the Shires to keep all their Council Tax instead of sending it up north to Labour Councils, spend all the road fund license money on actually repairing the 3rd world roads we now have and cutting tax on Fuel!!! I live in hope.......!
- Gary, amersham
So the Government know all about the council house scams, multiple identities and fraud carried out largely by immigrants - has done nothing for 11 years but let more in - and now pretends to be taking action because an election is looming. Migrants will only jump housing queues if in "greater need" ...nothing will change, they will continue to have kids, or borrow some-one else's kids, to claim all the social housing and benefits available. Now Mr Cameron - what are you going to do about it?
- Ab, London
