Yesterday the Prime Minister David Cameron announced as part of the future welfare reform plans the aim of stopping people under the age of 25 from claiming Housing Benefit. This reform would take place after the next general election. The reason for this reform the government have stated is that people under the age of 25 do not really need to claim Housing Benefit they can live with their parents.
A number of points need to be made about this outrageous proposal.
Firstly many young people under the age of 25 cannot live with their parents due to domestic difficulties. Also many young people under the age of 25 have had to obtain employment a long way from where their parents live. Due to the lack of employment near where their parents live.
Secondly most young people are not social security scroungers there just are no jobs about for young people and those what are available are often low paid.The Smith Institute has stated that seven out of every eight people claiming housing benefit are people in low wages and not people out of work.
Thirdly the reason for the high housing benefit bill in this country is due to the high rents charged by private landlords and the lack of rent controls for private landlords.
So basically young people are going to be made to pay the price for the world wide capitalist crisis.There are few well paid jobs available for young people. Rents are high but of course the government will continue to bail out the bankers.
Yesterday the Labour member of parliament Frank Field endorsed the governments plans. So we should not really trust the Labour Party to lead a fight against the government plans.
What is needed is decent housing for all with a massive public property building programme and rent controls for private landlords. But in conclusion we need a new economic system based on co-operative ownership and fair shares for all .But to achieve this we need a new political movement in this country.
kevinclarion 