The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Labour begins to turn against universal benefits

Welfare spokesman Liam Byrne says that benefits to the elderly will need to be "looked at".

By George Eaton Published 02 October 2012 11:30

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne. Photograph: Getty Images.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne warned that Labour would need to make cuts to welfare. Photograph: Getty Images.

Last week, we heard Nick Clegg question the future of universal benefits for the elderly such as the winter fuel allowance and free bus passes, and now Labour is doing the same. On the Today programme this morning, Liam Byrne suggested that a better "balance" needed to be struck between means-tested and universal benefits. The shadow work and pensions secretary said:

There has always been a balance in the welfare state between universal benefits and targeted benefits and I'm afraid as part of Ed's zero-based review that balance has got to be looked at

To date, Ed Miliband's leadership has been characterised by a strong defence of universal benefits, most obviously in the case of child benefit. He believes, as Richard Titmuss put it, that "services for the poor will always be poor services" and that "middle class benefits" are important to sustain public support for the welfare state. But such is the fiscal mess that Labour will inherit (the latest independent forecasts suggest the deficit will be £99.5bn in 2015) that this stance will become harder to defend. As Clegg quipped last week, "at a time when people’s housing benefit is being cut", Labour wants to protect "Alan Sugar’s free bus pass". While there are many on the left who will rightly argue that the cuts to working-age benefits are not a reason to reduce support for the elderly, there are others who will sympathise with Clegg's argument.

Owing to David Cameron's pre-election pledge to protect benefits for the elderly, there is no prospect of the coalition restricting eligibility before 2015. But it does now look as if all three of the main parties will go into the next election promising, to varying degrees, to limit universal payments.

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

Tags: Labour Liam Byrne Welfare Ed Miliband

More from George Eaton

View the discussion thread.

12 comments

Wed, 2012-10-03 10:33 — jjyadyjdqw (not verified)

cheap taffeta dresses etched on them

The important thing to remember is to set the tone for the reception right from the start. If you want something casual, choose casual invitations. A formal invitation tells guests to dress up and expect a formal gathering. With prom dresses, the color choices are endless. There are light colors such as light pink, yellow, white, light beige, lavender, mint green, and many others. There are darker colors such as black, silver, gold, burgundy, dark blue, and dark green.

But many brides think some bridal gowns are too common and popular. They want some different and unique. Such as gothic wedding dresses, beach bridal dresses. Any bateau neck line is a lot more conventional when compared to a girlfriend routine. No matter how a bateau condition is manufactured. It azines correct clothes leading will be brought up being practically near the neck of the guitar.

Those combined scores averaged, Oklahoma stood at 9.143 and Michigan was at the bottom of the top five with 8.585. At that point the front-runner was Miss Colorado, Jessica Hartman, who won in both categories with an average of 9.248 but ended up in fourth position after stumbling while answering Johnny Weir question of government regulation and the Internet. Paula Shugart, the President of Miss Universe Organization, said that the scores are not cumulative and are wiped after each elimination.

4. Link back from your YouTube Channel videos to your site because that's important from an SEO perspective. This goes for any user-generated video you like. I also really loved some of the quests attire. Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice of York looked amazing and I am coveting Princess Beatrice's Jacket and I loved that Princee Eugenie's use of color. AND can we talk about those hats! I am not that dedicated to wear one of those hats, but I can spot fashion and appreciate the avant garde..

Particular religious is well-known for wedding; same blossoms may be used for all events that particular few days. Best part about it, usually you will pay a low set price. Bad information, you may not get management over the blossoms on the day. If have lots of small and miscellaneous golden wedding anniversary gift ideas in mind, a good idea would be to pack all of these golden wedding anniversary gift ideas in one gift basket. The camera prices too come in different ranges and are set . It provides you all things at your home.

There are some points to consider if you for short wedding dresses. Make sure the dress, at least to the knees. If shorter, it may be appropriate for your wedding. The wedding and the wedding receptions should be recorded on video tape. There is so much that is going on all at once at wedding and the reception that you are bound to miss something. Having a recording of this amazing once in a life time event will help the happy couple to see and remember everything that happens.

Tue, 2012-10-02 21:16 — Fraziel1

I think bus passes should be left alone for pensioners but the winter fuel payment should have been withdrawn from pensioners who don't need it a long time ago. It is a shockingly poor way to spend and target public money. You should get it if you need it and the way to show you need it is to be on a means tested benefit such as pension credit. That to me seems to be both logocal and sensible. How anyone anywhere can argue against it is beyond me. s for Johann Lamont, she has blon it for labour in Scotland. Instead of something for nothing ( except of course it isnt as we pay tax) she wants nothing for something! unbelievable. A middle ground of keeping some things free and getting rid of others seems sensible.

Tue, 2012-10-02 19:59 — Mike Ring (not verified)

Ho utterly appalling. What is the awful man doing anywhere near the shawdow cabinet? We do not need a Tory party mk2 which is what thes right wing Progress tossers are.

Tue, 2012-10-02 18:11 — tcswim (not verified)

In a Scottish paper I read Johann Lamont is suggesting Scottish Labour should join in the Tory campaign of austerity so Labour can offer the poor and old fairer austerity.

Is this "fairer austerity" a bid to win more votes south of Birmingham? Will more Scottish austerity be the price for more Labour votes in Surrey or Kent? Will bankers be told that under Labour only "fairer greed" will be permitted?

More fundamentally, are Ms Lamont's utterances a kite-flying exercise so Labour can abandon social democracy in favour of one- nation-liberal conservatism to win votes down south? Has she been asked to prepare the way for Ed Miliband to announce to Labour voters in Scotland that "'we have no choice but to let you down" so that he can introduce policies that will disappoint all who once believed in Labour?

Tue, 2012-10-02 18:11 — tcswim (not verified)

In a Scottish paper I read Johann Lamont is suggesting Scottish Labour should join in the Tory campaign of austerity so Labour can offer the poor and old fairer austerity.

Tue, 2012-10-02 17:53 — Ian Carle (not verified)

"if bus passes were means tested,many older people would be too proud to apply for one,they would simply remain indoors and become increasingly isolated" stated Sadiq Khan MP on Any Questions last week. I hope Sadiq can have a word with Liam Byrne and also with Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont

Tue, 2012-10-02 17:52 — Ian Carle (not verified)

Tue, 2012-10-02 16:08 — Michael Dixon (not verified)

Oh dear why did they not think of that before.
Is this a policy or a little aside while he was speaking?
Has Labour got a specific policy on anything?
I am none the wiser after Miliband's speech today.

Tue, 2012-10-02 16:02 — Barrie J (not verified)

Byrne and the rest of New Labour are the same self serving Tory scum as Nick and Dave's crew.
I never hear them suggesting M.P.s benefits need looking at.
A guy at the bus stop told me: "The only good Tory is a dead one and the only better Tory is a killed one".
I got the feeling he wasn't too impressed by them.

Tue, 2012-10-02 13:44 — NeverMindTheProse (not verified)

It doesn't matter colour of Tory you are,
be it Blue, Yellow or Red,
or what kind of Tory you are
be it also Dave, Nick or Ed,
you are still a F*****G Tory.

Tue, 2012-10-02 13:43 — Callumity (not verified)

It doesn't matter colour of Tory you are,
be it Blue, Yellow or Red,
or what kind of Tory you are
be it also Dave, Nick or Ed,
you are still a F*****G Tory.

Tue, 2012-10-02 12:14 — mike cobley (not verified)

Liam Byrne might as well be part of the Coalition government, since his recent proposals seem to offer few substantive changes. His attitude towards the ATOS-run Work Capability Assessment is a key indicator - anyone playing with a full deck would look at this claim system and see it for what it is, a vile, callous and irretrievably cruel process. That Byrne can only come out with weasel-word drivel about the test being the right thing but oh, the Coalition are doing it all wrong! - clearly demonstrates the man's own personal compassion deficit.

You had your chance, Liam, and you bungled it.