Frank Field given role as poverty czar by Cameron

[Hopeless Romantic]

FRANK FIELD, the senior Labour backbencher, has been given a role in the new coalition government leading a review into tackling poverty.

The former welfare minister who became a fierce critic of his party’s immigration policy, will become a “poverty czar” under David Cameron.

In another surprise appointment, the prime minister has asked the left-wing commentator Will Hutton to lead the drive to cut public sector pay. He has been charged with drawing up a new pay system for civil servants.

snip

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7127917.ece


I'm beginning to quite like this government!

[fedsron2us]

1. He will have plenty of work

since I expect a lot of people are going to be a lot poorer before this government is finished.

[Hopeless Romantic]

2. Maybe, but credit where it's due...

So far there has been nothing but good things imo.


Probably softening us up for a good stuffing later :(

[non sociopath skin]

3. Like I said, I'm long enough in the tooth ...

... to remember both Thatcher and Blair's Honeymoon periods.

I'll keep my powder dry a little longer, I think.

The Skin

[fedsron2us]

4. He will think the unthinkable then be sacked.

This is just window dressing for benefit cuts.

We have been down this road before.

Workfare for benefits is a fine old British tradition going back to the WorkHouse.

Under Thatcher YOPS attempted something similar but was really not much more than a modern version of picking oakham or crushing bones for glue.

The problem with introducinmg these types of scheme during a thumping recession is that there are no real jobs out there for the unemployed to do.

It is just a means of punishing the poor for their poverty so that the rest of us can feel morally superior.

I would prefer the High Tory paternalism of the Speenhamland system to Fields Neo Liberal utilitarian bollocks.

[LeftishBrit]

5. I fully agree

Never could stand Frank Field. I'm not surprised that he is now working for a Tory prime minister!

[non sociopath skin]

6. Indeed. I think his Victorian Utilitarianist views will sit just fine ...

... with those of the new regime.

Will Hutton I rather like, though, in spite of his Blairite links. Will be less happy seeing him shafted by the Cleggerons.

The Skin

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. I'd call Hutton 'centrist' rather than 'left wing' anyway

I'd say he's a fair fit for the coalition.

"The Cleggerons"? As in "This is the Voice of the Cleggerons. We know that you can hear us, Earthmen"?

[non sociopath skin]

8. Ah, but are the Cleggerons on the starboard bow of the Spaceship of State ...

... or do they list to port? :evilgrin:

The Skin