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I see the right bigots are out and about on this one, the only comment worth read is - Derek, Falmouth, Cornwall... Because by Christmas the cuts will cut...

- Fredrick, London, 11/09/2010 09:56
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Well said R.F.Yorke
Apart from the usual comments from Australia, where you think they would have enough on their hands, with every politician quoting god as if they talk to him personally, I think R.S. York had the most interesting point, and something I found horrifying to learn, that there are too many people in government jobs including MPS that are paid for not doing their job. At least the majority of sick people are too ill to work and Mark we know there is always the exception, just as there are a lot of crooks in public life, and a lot of nutters sending comments to the Standard.

- alan, England., 10/09/2010 16:53
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There could be much bigger cuts than what Osborne is proposing. He's just scraping the surface in regard the real level of fraud going on -- too scared to make the cuts really needed.

- Phil Jones, London EU, 10/09/2010 14:29
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Stop giving disabled people expensive cars, give them mobile electric scooters instead. Limit families to 2 children if they want benefits. Tax bicycles as they are using cycle lanes and the roads. Don't give immigrants payouts of benefit until they have contributed taxes for 2 years, (mimnimun). In fact, let's get out of the EU all together it's costing us billions just to be a member. Look at the BIG picture Mr. Government, take those blinkers off.
I personally cannot respect any government because of their greed and lies. I was told to opt out of the government pension scheme because I had two private ones and didn't need the government one. Both of my pensions went bust, leaving me with no pension. Every company that I worked for in the past has closed down owing to high taxation, mainly business rates and I have not been able to get full time work in the last nine years because of my age. In that time I have not claimed any benefits. I was on the dole once and was sent on courses which I ALREADY HAD CERTIFICATES FOR.
I have been reduced from a Master Printer/setter down to a rag and bone man scavaging in skips for scrap metal and items to sell at boot sales, I cannot afford to pay any national insurance and because of this the Inland Revenue and Pensions are not paying me any pension money. I am fast approaching my 67th year and have had nothing from the government and I don't know if I ever will. What next Mr Government? compulsery EUthenasia for the over sixties?

- Powder Pete, Havant, Hampshire, England, 10/09/2010 12:55
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Good god, I've had enough I get up go to work five days a week,do two jobs dont get paid enough to support my working man lifestyle pay normal rate tax which is all bad enough. Now I hear I can choose to jack all this in and get a government funded benefits lifestyle according to this new chancellor as he says "the government cant afford it as it is too generous" Well thats Ok I presumed those on generous benefits were all called MP's, silly me I'll be signing on first thing Monday morning. I've still got my UB40 happy days with CONDEM EXPENSES from BENEFITS CLAIMENTS.

- Sylvester, Cornhill, London, 10/09/2010 11:38
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I did my 48 years of working since 13 years of age, and now GLADLY put my hand out for Social Security.......but some folks have never worked a day and get everything.

- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 10/09/2010 11:27
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I hope the government does do this. However, I also hope they target the micky takers and the cradle to grave layabouts and not those folk who have lost their jobs in a high unemployment area through no fault of their own. My feeling is this government isn't going to discriminate between the spongers and those that have genuinely fallen on hard times.

- Sue, Kent, 10/09/2010 11:25
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George Osborne has caught the public mood right on these benefit cuts. Its quite obvious that the many people are milking the system while hard working families are struggling to make ends meet. Why should a person on housing benefit be able to rent a house for £50k per annum while a working family cannot?

These benefits were never intended to give the unemployed an advantage over people who go to work but now they are an invitation to economic immigrants to get to the UK however and then find a friendly Vicar to get them a marriage licence.

Osborne has served notice when he says“Of course, people who are disabled, people who are vulnerable, people who need protection will get our protection, and more.

“But people who think it's a lifestyle choice to just sit on out-of-work benefits - that lifestyle choice is going to come to an end."

- Sam, London,UK., 10/09/2010 11:20
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- Derek, Falmouth, Cornwall, 10/09/2010 10:59
'the right-wing Conservative Republican President George W. Bush'

Didn't he have something to do with getting allies into some protracted war in Iraq which is now lost ?....hee hee...do you think I'll do Ok in comedy ????

- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 10/09/2010 11:08
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I wonder who's idea it was to announce this now rather than wait until October 20th? Andy you are still going to be the story mate just resign or get used to it.

- W6, London, 10/09/2010 11:08
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America isn't by any stretch of the imagination "socialist" and has 9.6% unemployment: that's about 15 million folks. And this came after eight years under the right-wing Conservative Republican President George W. Bush's administration. The ignorant people on this site blaming the Labour Party as the sole source of the mess we are in should take note. When George Osborne's savage cuts begin to bite from the Autumn onward the people of this country will be begging the Labour Party to be returned to power like nobodies business. You have my word on it.

- Derek, Falmouth, Cornwall, 10/09/2010 10:59
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If it's true then it's about time and while he's at it he could make life easier for people earning under £25,000 a year by taxing them less...well they have bothered to get off their butts and work for a living.

- Sarah, London, 10/09/2010 10:59
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Anglo Sussex has every reason to be cynical.

The Socialists have created a welfare dependent underclass who will take more weaning off benefits than getting off heroin.

As soon as the barricades go up the lily-livered amongst the liberals will drop out and start looking for an alternative lifestyle in Wales, where they will not be welcome.

- Alan, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, 10/09/2010 10:20
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@ alan, England

Search the ES Dispossessed stories you'll find a Dispossessed lady picking up £ 36k per annum in benefits (equiv. of a £ 56k per annum salary). She doesn't work but ound the time to knock out eleven kids by five different fathers.

What was particularly galling about her story was her complaint that she couldn't afford shoes for her children yet she spent about £2k per annum on mobile phones and Sky.

Please tell me why mugs like me, the goalkeeper or the banker should pay for that!

- Mark, Gerrymandered African Republic of Southwark, 10/09/2010 10:20
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“But people who think it's a lifestyle choice to just sit on out-of-work benefits - that lifestyle choice is going to come to an end. The money won't be there.”

We have the same PARASITES in Australia, folks who have not worked for years or have never worked at all!! they thinks it's their right so sit back and claim all benefits they can...the problem is of course the Govt let's them. You can be a crook and rip off the system and the GOVT says 'bless you here's another benefit for you, BUT the honest citizen tells the truth and gets bugger all when they need it, SO TAKE HEART..the UK is not alone..we have our own home grown BLUDGERS here also.

WE also have the 'druggies' on free methadone and heroin clinics.. at taxpayers expence etc etc. If only they'd bring back National Service and straighten these buggers out...trouble is the Army would not take them..... LOL

- Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, NSW Australia, 10/09/2010 10:18
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I agree with Anglo, Sussex too.

- Michaella, London, 10/09/2010 10:03
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The Labour party increased the number of people on benfits by making it more attractive not to work. At the same time they increased the proportion of people working in the public sector by making a load of non jobs in the north east. At the same time the highest level of university graduate unemployment is with Computer Science graduates. This is due to their immigration policy. They were unfit to govern and unfit to comment now.

- Alex C, London, 10/09/2010 09:53
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I believe that £8bn is erroniously paid out - £6bn is fraud/over-payments and £2 BILLION is from mistakes by the gov!!

No mention of these mistakes? funny that.

- bobby, berks, 10/09/2010 09:42
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Do people really think benefit claimers are on a win win lifestyle. The average they receive is about £80 a week, when your suffering from a mental illness so you constantly hear voices, diabolical back pain, or ME so you can hardly get up in the morning to cook a piece of toast. Obviously there are some who are not ill, and there are some that are bloody ill. Thats down to the doctors. I know people that really suffer to all the above conditions. I also know people that save the nation a fortune by looking after old and infirm relatives. Just try looking after an old person that is incontinent, who does not know who your are, for a few weeks. Then see if you refuse the pittance you receive in attendance allowance.

Meanwhile all those who rubbish people on benefit hail as heros Goalkeepers, footballers, on £90000 a week and bankers with a 11.5 million pay package. Why not raise taxes on them to at least 60% to pay for the mess Ms Coopers government left us in?

- alan, England., 10/09/2010 09:35
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The trouble is George seems to want to Tar everyone who is receiving any type of benefit with the Same Brush we know that many people are cheating the system but not everyone is and he seems to be missing that point.

- Mike Melbourne, Bedford, 10/09/2010 09:25
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All governments are stupid, some more stupid than others. They urge people to save, then when they can no longer work want to take into account tiny savings by means testing benefits. Suppose you have savings of £8000, or even the suggest level of £16000, with no benefits, might manage to exist for a year, but then back on benefits. Go off benefits with a mental illness, go on unemployment benefit because no one will employ you. Take on more civil servants to work it all out. Perhaps more people would go off benefits if they were allowed to earn more , without loosing benefits.

Thanks to the last government we are in a mess. Those that can afford to pay should pay. This week alone I read of a banker with 11.5 million package and a goal keeper on £90000 a week, so increase taxation to 60% , soon pay off our debts. Those taxed would still be very well off. The goalkeeper is hardly likely to move abroad, as is the banker.

Is there no single politician with intelligence in this World?

- alan, England., 10/09/2010 09:18
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this wouldn't be the george osborne whose lifestyle is subsidised by the family millions, would it?

perhaps he's transferring his guilt?

- fred, london, england, 10/09/2010 09:15
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Good and long overdue.

They be a few of ES so-called "Dispossessed" who might have to give up their subscriptions to Sky and spensing twenty quid a week on mobiles, so you might need to have another whip-round!

- Mark, Gerrymandered African Republic of Southwark, 10/09/2010 09:02
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Mr Osborne could begin by withholding the salaries of the 500 MPs who failed to attend the debate on the war in Afghanistan yesterday. In my view they are more contemptible than benefits cheats. Our soldiers are dying out there yet just 100 bothered to attend the debate.

- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 10/09/2010 08:59
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More spin and waffle and useless spoutings by parasite Yvette Cooper (alias Balls).

- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, UKSSR, 10/09/2010 08:55
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Good luck mate, unfortunately the fly in the ointment will be the Liberals. They want to give away more money than the incompetent Labour lot.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 10/09/2010 08:54
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I agree with -Anglo,Sussex

- shallotman, Basildon, 10/09/2010 08:49
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Believe it when you see it.

- Anglo, Sussex England, 10/09/2010 08:08
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