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Bracknell Forest Council's deputy leader Cllr Dale Birch hit out against the former Labour Government
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Councillors clash over Labour's 'failings'

By Jennie Slevin
January 17, 2013

The deputy leader of Bracknell council hit out against the former Labour Government claiming it ‘sold us down the river’.

During a meeting discussing the reforms on council tax Councillor Dale Birch said: “This country has no money and we need to remind ourselves of who put us in that position.

“Labour say they want to raise benefits.

“That is an absolute travesty and that is why the country is in the mess it is and it’s not fair.”

Under the new arrangement, local authorities will manage council tax benefits for residents once the national scheme is scrapped in April.

Cllr Birch added: “We need to bring in now, a system that is fair and we are going to make sure whatever system we bring in will reward people for being in work.

“We need to make sure that it’s better to be in work than on benefits and that those who are working are properly recognised.”

Arguing against his comments, Councillor Mary Temperton, leader of the Bracknell Labour party said: “The word ‘benefits’ is not blasphemous.

“Most of those on benefits are in work but in low paid, temporary or part-time work.

“All would want to live on a wage that would enable them to live without having to claim benefits.

“Most are strivers not scroungers.”

The councillors clashed during an executive committee meeting on Tuesday, January 8.

The full council will be asked to vote on the council tax reforms next Wednesday (January 23).

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Most recent user comments 44 of 44

Hi Crimson - I am definitely not male nor called Neal :)

CMK
27/01/2013 at 12:45

Great story here about our moron MP. Read the comments - even one person suggesting Bracknell should recall him. http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/10186308._Forget_about_getting_A_E_back___says_MP/

http://38degrees.uservoice.com/forums/78585-campaign-suggestions/suggestions/3544175-bracknell-conservative-association-must-recall-and

Neal Evans, Forest Park
26/01/2013 at 21:28

There you go - Is that enough communist housewife for you? Would I shack up with that little Cut and Paste twerp who cannot type? Have a look at http://www.politicalcompass.org/

All is not always what it seems!

Crimson Dawn, Bracknell
23/01/2013 at 17:36

As socialists, we have some things in common with people who want to invest for growth. They want huge building projects such as schools, hospitals and housing—and so do we. The difference is that we don’t believe these things will restore the system’s profits.

We want working class people to have jobs—and we want to build things because they would be useful for ordinary people.

New Labour's policies meant kowtowing before business, giving more power to fat cats, wrecking services and jobs.

As the revolutionary Karl Marx argued, instability is an inherent part of capitalism. The system always goes through booms and busts—economic peaks and troughs.

CAPITALISM'S BOOM-bust cycle is central to its operation, not some temporary aberration. It is the product of the unplanned, anarchic nature of capitalism, whereby periods of hyped-up investment as sales increase and profits rise are followed by periods of overproduction leading to falling profits and layoffs.

http://socialistworker.org/2002-2/419/419_09_BoomBust.shtml

Reed it and tell me it makes sence.

Crimson Dawn, Bracknell
23/01/2013 at 17:33

My dear Crimson

Are you a communist housewife called Dawn?

I can quite assure you that I am neither anyone but myself - Sum Quod Sum - and have nothing whatsoever in common with half of these oiks.

My man-friday Fenton can attest to such matters, as can my rather gauche neighbour Mrs Cutler-Hume.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
23/01/2013 at 09:47

Sorry to disappoint Crimson, I am me and me alone. I only signed up when I had my rather public falling out with the local Tories which if you have the time to check I am sure you will see is the case. Must admit though, I do share the same ideas as Disgruntled Former Tory; then again as we are both of the same obvious political mind-set that is hardly surprising. Our mutual dislike of that man Lee which the BCA sicked upon us was welcome, and of course we are not alone.

Possible good call on Olds Oak (or Old Soak) being Phil Lee (Man of the People) as that person and one other were rather vocal defending our moron MP and the BCA when I had my fun with them last year. Also the name – well we know Lee spends more time propping up bars and then serving in them to supplement his meagre income.

It does however make you wonder whether some people are using more than one login to spout some nonsense and in some cases “support” their own moronic ideas. Perhaps the GetBracknell web team can check IP addresses and email addresses and weed out the guilty?

Neal Evans, Forest Park
23/01/2013 at 08:10

I smell rat too. Bracknell Citizen, Bracknell? Neal?

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell Neal?

SandyAndy? Neal - but invented so he can argue against the cr ap Sandy spouts.

CMK Must Be Neal

dodgynews, Bracknell Must be Neal

Disgruntled Former-Tory, Bracknell Area Obvious that that is Neal

And Bracknellian - May be Brad . Probaly

Come on "Maddie" and Neal - and the rest. We know who you are.

An we know old soak is Dr Lee as he spends all of his time in the Finchampstead pubs!!!

Crimson Dawn, Bracknell
23/01/2013 at 00:54

@Neal - d'you know, I fear I may have stumbled upon a conspiracy. Re-reading Old Oaks erudite missives, I realised that he used some terminology that another gent uses on here. Quite specific it is.

Go to his last post. Are the two dastardly gents one and the same? What wicked plot is being hatched?

Anyway - that's quite enough diatribe from me for today. Fenton will be along with the bed warmer and my usual Bushmills nightcap.

Book I'm reading: Women In Love

Goodnight sweet things.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 21:42

seems Gingertop is another Tory as he/she is spouting the same rhetoric as Cameron; which he had to withdraw!

Neal Evans, Forest Park
22/01/2013 at 21:19

The UKIP are all swivelled eyed lunerticks. Wee all now that.

Gingertop, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 17:55

Ginger, sweetheart....

Respect?

Now you're being silly. The left's UKIP.

I know of several local Tories who would vote for Labour if Miliband Sr. was leader.

Me I'm all for their younger brother.

Steve Miller Band

Boom!

I'm here all week x

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 17:48

http://www.respectparty.org/

In a sinking ship, the bankers and the millionaires seek safety and comfort while pushing everyone else out of the life boats or down the ladders. This is the 21st century that the Tories and the Liberal Democrats want for us.

By 2020, the TUC estimates that living standards will have been cut for the majority by a further 15%. This comes on top of the most consistent fall in living standards since the 1930s. From 2005, living standards have fallen by an average of 1% per year. Last night, the House of Commons voted for a Welfare Bill that will make 7 million working families worse off and increase the despair and desperation of the unemployed.

No Tories No Labour - Lets have some real respect.

Gingertop, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 16:33

Wee need a real socialist Government. one that will give us our benefits.

Gingertop, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 16:29

Maddie - Deficit - But of what size?

The Tories had some manageable debt - Labour just did not care, raided all the Gold that balanced off the (millions) of debt, and then proceeded to run up billons of debt – All counter to Gordon’s own economic cycle rule.

Gordon Brown – “No more Boom and Bust”

Yes Gordon was right – No boom – Just Bust.

Gingertop, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 16:29

I'm hedging my bets it's Cllr. Stanton, President of BCA .

They're only fluff and noise to you because they don't agree with your propaganda.

5300 soldiers to lose their jobs by the end of the year. How many of them are destined for the benefits queue? Hero to zero in 12 months. Defender to scrounger according to the Tory dogma.

Further borrowing? That'll be because Gideon did his sums wrong and realised his policies are actually making our economic outlook even worse. A bit inconvenient for an MP who recently trumpeted the UK as being out of recession. Who was that again?

Manufacturing struggling? Ie. the private sector that was meant to pick up all those wastrel public sector workers who lost their jobs:

"Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insights....the manufacturing sector...still has its work cut out to return to sustainable growth in the face of ongoing challenging domestic and international conditions" From the Torygraph.

The interesting thing from the Guardian data shows that when the economy was doing well we were in surplus and Labour's surplus was considerably larger. Given the extent of the GLOBAL financial meltdown and the Trotter-esque shenanigans of the bankers that precipitated it, I would expect to see such a deficit.

But over the course of 32 years you had a Labour government for 12. For most of the time the Tories were/are in power and they operated with a deficit. The party of business? I wouldn't trust Gideon to run an egg-and-spoon race.

Not sure what the point of the bank data is - well done, you can navigate the Guardian. Hope you didn't come out in hives.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 16:18

The torys hate anone who is not ritch. Look at the lates headlines Thousands sacked at HMV aand Jessops!!! Tories promised that new jobs in the private sector would make up for what they slashed from the public sector insteed a series of devastating blows over the past two weeks have exposed this as a hollow lie.

Now the Torys will brand thoe unemployed workers as “skivers”. Many of those sacked this week already know how hard it is to find a job.

Unions must lead a fight that can save our jobs. If workers occupy Jessops or HMV stores wee shuld go out and support them. Blockbusters will be next and even more workers on the dole in bracknell, and benifits cut so that councillors can ride roughshod over us with there hunteing horses. I bet none one the councillres really live in bracknell anyway. probably have main homes in france and hypocritacll wand to get rin of the EU wat gis us most of oour trade.

wee now the tory weasle words. Thea Tory fat cats want all the wad in there pocket.

Gingertop, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 14:59

Maddie my dear girl, those aren't so much headlines as fluff and noise. Not like the solid facts in the Guardian Data Page? Pip Piip.

Olds Oak, Finchampstead
22/01/2013 at 14:49

Major trading partners and strategic allies are urging us to change tack. Where does it say that in the headlines? Maddie my dear girl those things there aren't headlines; just fluff. Please look at the real data in the Guardian Tables? And also tell me about the banks?

Olds Oak, Finchampstead
22/01/2013 at 14:49

Here he is - Old Oaks! How are you sweetpea?

Remind me - which Tory are you? Cllr. Stanton? Cllr. Ross?

I'll get there eventually......

Perhaps you missed the bit where I said I wasn't a poster girl for Labour?

I'm an Independent. Which means I have a brain of my own.

But an analysis of the details show that actions taken by the previous government saw modest improvements. Three years under the Tories and we're worse off than before. All our major trading partners and strategic allies are urging us to change tack.

To pin everything on Labour is to shirk responsibility for your actions. Labour did what they could - within a global context - to prevent UK from going bankrupt.

As for Gideon and Dave - how come we see these headlines today?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jan/22/government-borrowing-uk-credit-rating

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9817896/Soldiers-serving-in-Afghanistan-likely-to-be-sacked-within-year.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/9817887/Britains-factory-orders-fall-unexpectedly.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21145018

It's you lot running the country (into the ground) now, not Labour.

Ditch the Teflon, cupcake.

Show us you know the meaning of responsibility.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 13:49

Neal, I wonder how it is worked out?

If you take the average council worker wage of 29,000 that works out at about £16/Hr. We divide up 8,500 into hours –That would then expect your average councillor do 10 hours a week?

On the other hand Councillors give a steer to the Chief Executive who gets something like 150,000. That works out at about £82/hr. That would mean 2 hours a week.

But then who knows what councillors earn from the companies that they are at? The average Bracknell salary is 36,000.

Just how would you work out the worth? How many people would handle and be held responsible for multi million pond budgets for free?

Perhaps Neal can give us a scheme that works within the laid down laws?

http://www.totaljobs.com/salary-checker/average-council-salary http://www.getreading.co.uk/jobs/news/s/2109829_bracknell_workers_have_second_highest_wages_in_country http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1021/contents/made

Maddie - Take a look at the data on this website, and then tell me about who made us skint? http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/oct/18/deficit-debt-government-borrowing-data

When Labour gained office in 1997 with a deficit of 15,555 million, they kept to Toy plans and got to a surplus of 16,697 millon in 2000.

2002 was the start of the slide, seeing a drop to a deficit of 42,589 million in 2005 a slump to 69.002 million in 2008

We then saw a HUGE slide to a deficit of 156,214 million by 2009.

Now explain the bank bit to me: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/nov/12/bank-bailouts-uk-credit-crunch

Olds Oak, Finchampstead
22/01/2013 at 12:53

And as for your wider point about the country being skint. It's 2013. Our third year of a coalition government which imposed the levels of austerity - driven by an ideology of deficit reduction at ANY cost.

Quick history lesson for you:

2007 - Northern Rock collapse heralding the start of the financial crisis in UK, as a result of sub prime mortgage and Wall Street scandals in US.

Globally all economies began to experience contraction and heading for recession in 2009.

The policies of Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, combined with those of other global players saw a turnaround and a mitigation of financial collapse.

Since 2010, under George Osborne, we've seen the UK return to recession and almost constant downgrading of growth forecasts by the OBR, Bank of England and Treasury. Last week saw first confirmed fears amongst financial sector of a triple dip recession.

I'm no fan of Labour - and certainly not a poster girl for them - but three years of this mob have seen them missing targets and entrenching stagnation in the economy. Oh, but they cut the top rate of tax for the wealthiest......

If Labour left the country skint - then the Tories have have pawned us off to Wonga!

Anyway, cupcake, let's not fall out x

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 11:53

Sandy my dearest - you seem to be wilfully overlooking the points I am making.

The Look In is not like other food establishments - any other food business in the town is a private enterprise: Burger King, McDonalds, Market Cafe, Greggs, Costa.....

It was established in 1995 and subsidised by BFC to provide a venue for seniors to meet, have a hot meal, etc. Various groups such as the Alzheimers Society and Help The Aged held drop in sessions there.

I'm not saying BFC weren't right to consider every aspect of where their funding went - but it's typical of politicians to protect their own wallets whilst seemingly ignoring the needs of the very people they are meant to represent.

It now runs - as I said - because the good people of this town took on the burden of keeping this vital facility open. Do keep up. People such as myself donating food, volunteering time.

"Being a councillor should not be a job for only the rich or those retired. "

Umm - I made that point first. Again, you're not paying attention. Sit up at the back there.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
22/01/2013 at 11:52

Is Sandyandy perchance a plant? A Tory lackey? A Councillor?

I think Maddie is asking some valid questions. Looking at allowances paid in 2011/2012 the Councillors claimed a total of £597,695.77, shall we say a round £600,000, which can be viewed on the downloads here: http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/councillorsallowances

I think that what needs to happen is for the electorate to decide this at the next election (2015 both General and Local) and see if anything changes. Personally I have my doubts as I see there never being any change it is all really shades of grey (the old-fashioned term) or as Maddie also referred to, a tad Orwellian. Who is Napoleon? Who is Snowball? Is Sandyandy Squealer?

Neal Evans, Forest Park
22/01/2013 at 06:34

So what was with the increase of the look-in funding to 60,000? Was that not a subsidy? How is it other food establishments make a profit?

How come it now runs without the subsidy?

And Maddie, how much should councillors be paid?

Something different than what the independent panel sets?

The panel states that "Moreover, the Panel has been mindful of its guiding principle that it has sought to reduce financial barriers to being an elected Member while ensuring that the remuneration received by Members represents value for money" - So why would anybody suggest cutting that? Surely it might affect some councillors quite badly? http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/independentremunerationpanel

As far as I can see the austerity is shared, in that the allowance do not appear to have been increased for several years. I also gather that the mileage decrease you referenced applies to councillors as well, with some members having their car expenses cut completely, as they cannot now claim mileage within the Borough.

As for hypocrisy. Did you do see that the Labour group (of 3) were pulling political a cheap shot? They were all retired and could afford to do it for free. Being a councillor should not be a job for only the rich or those retired.

And just a reminder of who left the country skint: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2976845/Labour-Treasury-chief-left-a-letter-admitting-Britain-is-skint.html

Sandyandy, Warfield
22/01/2013 at 03:09

Is it that hard to understand, dearheart? You clearly knew nothing of which I spoke, and therefore I kindly provided you with links to back up my assertions. Did you not read them, but chose to comment anyway?

By the way, are you a reader of Orwell? Animal Farm per chance?

Firstly, I never once suggested that benefits or subsidies should be increased. And despite Cllr. Birch's erroneous claim, nor have Labour, either nationally or locally.

Secondly, councillors are not workers or employed - they represent us through the democratic process. As in, they are elected. They are not paid. They receive allowances.

Rightly so, otherwise elected office becomes the preserve of the well off and retired.

Do you not see the irony, nay hypocrisy, of a political group blaming their opposition for spending when the self same group refuse to countenance a reduction in their allowances in order to share the same austerity as everyone else in the borough?

Cllr. Birch voted against a proposal to reduce his allowance in order to save the Look In cafe in Broadway, forcing this valuable ammenity for the over 50's to face closure. (It didn't because the good people of Bracknell got organised and saved it, in spite of BFC's best efforts).

He chose to keep his wallet padded out, while reducing allowances of the opposition, in the knowledge that further cuts were being made to vital services like closing most of the youth centres, closing and streamlining the childrens centres, cuts to services for the disabled and elderly.

We're all in this together?

So to summarise, Cllr. Birch shows the stoic residents of Bracknell what he and his party are really about - the Tories in this town bank on us having short memories, hoping we've been beaten into submission by the degradation of our town.

"All animals are equal. But some are more equal than others"

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
21/01/2013 at 19:45

So Maddie you would have some workers (Because as I see it councillors work for us) take a pay cut while subsidies and benefits are increased?

Sandyandy, Warfield
21/01/2013 at 17:34

Sandyandy says: Minimum Wage applies to all companies. Some small companies could not pay that much, and probably would risk paying cash in hand, thus denying any top-up benefits to workers.

With respect your reply is lame and doesn't address the situation at all. Minimum wages don't apply to all companies. Some pay a decent living wage. Companies like Tesco, are rolling in it. Why should they be allowed to pay such low wages or none at all, that the government is subsidising them?

Dids, Bracknell
21/01/2013 at 14:24

Sandyandy - I don't have an attitude of expecting to be a loser. I never said I did - but I'm more of a team player in the championship we call life, not a lone competitor.

As for BFC, Tories, and thinking of their pockets before helping the citizens of this great borough:

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2110088_bid_to_reduce_councillors_allowances_thrown_out

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2089784_council_leader_defends_allowances

http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2065541_cut_councillors_allowances_to_save_the_look_in

And my favourite -http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/news/s/2094339_staff_happy_to_take_expenses_cut_say_bosses_

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
20/01/2013 at 17:27

Maddie. What I asked was "What do you want to be?" Why do you have an attitude that expects you to be a loser? I want to be a winner. It may not always happen, but that's what I want.

Neal - Are you claiming the discount for being on your own? Should those without children get a discount?

Maddie "Voting down a proposal to reduce his allowances" - what's that about?

Dids, the Minimum Wage applies to all companies. Some small companies could not pay that much, and probably would risk paying cash in hand, thus denying any top-up benefits to workers.

CMK - Labour had several years to get the tax system right - The system is now so complex the that HMRC would rather settle for a smaller sum out of court that run up huge tax bills unravelling - Under Labour the tax legislation handbook more than doubled in length to over 11,000 pages long - including lots of loopholes - What we need is simple tax - http://www.reform.co.uk/content/5031/research/economy/reality_check_fixing_the_uks_tax_system

Sandyandy, Warfield
20/01/2013 at 05:44

"...we are going to make sure whatever system we bring in will reward people for being in work."

Now I'm no apologist for the work shy, feckless, and outright lazy - yes, you, the weasel faced ingrates in Great Hollands Square with your dogs that look like a pair of bo***ks on four legs - but I am intrigued by this notion of 'rewarding' those in work. Surely paid employment is it's own reward?

I don't know about you but I'm a lady of modest means, a family gal, with my fragrant 'partner' and our three bonnie kids. I don't envy anyone taking a state benefit and I can't understand why anyone would imagine it's a life that is preferable to one where you earn a wage for an honest days labour (although honest is stretching it when it comes to politicians).

But then Capt. Mainwaring - sorry, Cllr Birch - showed his true blue colours when voting down a proposal to reduce his allowances in order to save a valuable amenity. He was rewarding himself for working.

Good for you Dale.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
18/01/2013 at 23:37

Well said Maddie. I just hope that in 2015 the Bracknell Forest electorate will show both Lee and the local Councillors how we all feel.

Keeping with the story though, I am intrigued by a comment of Cllr Birch "We need to make sure that it’s better to be in work than on benefits and that those who are working are properly recognised". Does that mean they will finally look at Council Tax in an equitable way for those of us who work? Will they look at some form of "benefit" and provide a 50% discount for those living alone? - after all the original concept was it was based on two people sharing!

Oh well, moment of unreality has passed. Of course not.

I am wondering why the photo has Cllr Birch waving a Red Flag - is he not telling his Tory friends something?

Neal Evans, Forest Park
18/01/2013 at 23:08

I suppose Bracknell Tories consider Phillip Lee to be the very model of a striver - he parrots whatever he has to to, pronounces upon remedying the ills of society, but is happy to ensure his interests and those of his like minded chums are served first.

I would argue that in fact Lee, supported by the likes of Cllr. Birch, represents the very reason we have a class of people who think the world owes them everything:

He couldn't be nominated as candidate for the Tories on his own merits - he had to be parachuted in on Dave's A list. He owes Dave.

He's not prepared to commit himself 100% to his employer - either as a GP or MP. But instead spins any old guff to excuse his poor attitude.

Only thinks about himself - whether it's career opportunities, perks like a flat in London, subsidised meals, free travel, 2 cosy pensions, but hasn't the manners to interact with his constituents who are bearing the brunt of policies he is proud to have voted for.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
18/01/2013 at 10:48

SandyAndy Mary Temperton is only saying that most people who claim tax credits are strivers not scroungers

Unfortunately the tory loons want everyone to believe that anyone who claims ESA, tax credit, DLA are all scroungers

Most use the money as a top up to ensure they can pay their bills

As the Tories are so anti scroungers I am so sure they will be clamping down on the tax evaders which deprive the country of far more than any one claiming benefits - the only reason they get away with it is they are all pals!

CMK
18/01/2013 at 10:22

SandyAndy:

So how do you feel about multi million pound companies and corporations paying minimum wage and the government topping up those wages from our taxes? Does it make sense to you?

Or those same companies using free labour which we are subsidising from our taxes? Does that make sense?

And then those same companies that are pocketing your money avoid paying taxes. Does that make sense?

Raise the minimum wage. At least the extra money would immediately go back into the economy.

Dids, Bracknell
18/01/2013 at 10:18

sandyandy - Mary Temperton may have used the word scroungers but you miss the context entirely therefore your point is erroneous.

For there to be winners there must be losers. I'm alright jack?

I'd rather be part of a society that attempts a balance between recognising and rewarding the efforts of those who work hard and succeed, and helping those who need support and compassion.

I won't buy into the polarisation of the current Tory dogma. It places emphasis on material wealth, demonises anyone unfortunate enough to be unemployed, ill, disabled, poor, or old. What about the stay-at-home parent who needs tax credits, housing benefit, free school meals, because their partner isn't earning enough? Let the children starve? Send them up the chimney or off to the work house?

The whole debate that is needed is much more subtle than black and white nonsense about strivers and skivers. Such a depiction of our society and communities only serves the self interest of those politicians who are keen to keep an iron grip on their core vote, running in fear from the popularity of the Farage and his merry band of loons.

Maddie Vegas, Hanworth, Bracknell
18/01/2013 at 10:16

SandyAndy of Warfield.

Another blind follower who has been brainwashed.

The party that originally put the word scroungers on everyone's lips was the Conservatives.

And now people are beginning to object.

Dids, Bracknell
18/01/2013 at 09:34

The person that used the word "scroungers" was the Labour councillor.

I am all for a system that means that work pays. I want to be a winner. What do you want to be?

According to the GMB union average wages in Bracknell have dropped by 14.8%. Have those on benefits seen the same drop?

Sandyandy, Warfield
18/01/2013 at 02:03

I'm pretty sure our councillors think we can't read. or if we do we only bother to read the Sun.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/taxpayers-face-500m-bill-for-rbs-libor-fraud-8452959.html

Dids, Bracknell
17/01/2013 at 18:12

And can I suggest our counsellors, Mr Dale and anyone else that carelessly links benefits with scroungers, read the following link and then come back and tell us what they think about this governments policies.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/17/atos-attack-emotional-commons-debate

I won't even bother to add a link that shows 200,000 more children have sunk into poverty.

Shame on this government and to anyone who thinks their policies are just...

Dids, Bracknell
17/01/2013 at 17:50

There appears to be a wider narrative emerging from Conservatives nationally regarding 'benefits', obesity, unemployment and the myth of strivers vs. skivers.

This is partisan propaganda that masks the real story of an ideology that is bent on finishing the Thatcherite project of dismantling society into winners and losers. Praise and laud those who make a success of themselves and bring them into the fold, demonise the losers as overweight, scrounging, baby farming parasites.

Unfortunately the truth of such a policy cannot be hidden. As reported this afternoon, the government has had to admit to Labour claims that 200,000 children have been pushed into poverty following the Tory war on benefits and tax credits.

"...work and pensions minister Esther McVey estimated that "the uprating measures in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 will result in around an extra 200,000 children being deemed by this measure to be in relative income poverty compared to uprating benefits by CPI [consumer price index]"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/17/benefits-squeeze-200000-children-poverty

Bracknell Citizen, Bracknell
17/01/2013 at 16:11

Agree with everything that has been said!

It seems the Tories want to use the term benefits all the time so that when they cut the working tax credit, disability allowance etc, everyone is going to think that it serves the benefit scroungers right!

Wrong Tories - most people work and HAVE to claim tax credit to bump up their wages as they are so low.

If Cllr Dale wants to be useful why not look into why since Housing Associations took over that our rent is £170 a week!

Hubby works full time - I work part -time - and we struggle

Am I a benefit scrounger Cllr Dale?

CMK
17/01/2013 at 13:24

Is it possible for Mr Dale and his fellow Conservatives to use the correct terms and include Working tax credits. Child Tax credits and Pension credits as well as Sickness, Disability, and Unemployment benefits?

Using the blanket term 'benefits' is cynical. He and his fellow Conservatives would like to us to forget this government is subsidising large, disgustingly rich companies that pay minimum wages or use Workfare and get free labour. For example: via our taxes government is topping up deliberately low wages with WORKING TAX CREDITS. Does he call that 'fair'? [a very childish term by the way] Perhaps Mr Birch would like to take a drop in his more than generous expenses and then he might deserve to be listened to. But I'm not holding my breath!

Dids, Bracknell
17/01/2013 at 13:17

A perceptive point Ms. Vegas. Lest we forget we should also remind ourselves which party, locally, cut funding for youth centres, closed children's centres, wanted to cash in at the crematorium, yet voted not to cut their own allowances in order to save the Look In cafe for senior residents.

Yes Cllr. Birch you are indeed a man of high principle and integrity when it comes to serving the interests of your community. As long as you can serve yourself first eh?

Winstanley, Bracknell
17/01/2013 at 13:13

So what about the benefits paid to soldiers, police civilian staff, public sector workers because they lost their jobs and now can't get work because the economy has flatlined?

What about the workers who will suffer because the government wants to axe worker rights and introduce lower pay deal bargaining? These workers will be forced to rely on benefits even more AND suffer the demonisation of being 'on benefits'.

Let's remind ourselves which party allowed that to happen.