As Frances Ryan argues, Andy Burnham needs to resist the anti-benefits rhetoric of the Right, which presents those receiving benefits as 'grifters' or 'scroungers' living it up at tax-payers expense... and replace this with a rhetoric of compassion & understanding.
The Q. is can the anti-benefits mood music be turned down or will we see those in need scarified on the rock of fiscal probity?
Sadly the latter looks more likely.
#disability #poverty #benefits #politics
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/16/right-scrounger-rhetoric-benefits-labour-compassion-welfare
Emeritus Prof. Christopher May
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2026-10-16 05:45:16 UTC
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