Unite raises welfare concerns

Unite has warned that the government’s proposed cuts to the welfare budget must not pit “the poorest against the poorest”.

There are in the region of 2.5 million people who are in employment and receiving some form of benefit, due to low pay or who require additional support, for example due to disability.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government is in danger of making the wrong choices. We must be protecting the most vulnerable in society and not pitting the poorest against the poorest.

“Before cutting benefits, the government should be introducing a wealth tax, so that the very wealthiest in society begin paying their fair share.

“The principle of getting people back into work is right but we need joined up thinking to ensure we are creating jobs and training for people to go into. That is about investment in manufacturing and creating jobs for the future. Over a third of people on benefits are already in work, we need to ensure that work pays for everyone.”

Unite has been campaigning for the introduction of a wealth tax. By taxing the richest one per cent in society, one percent of their assets, the UK could raise £25 billion. The richest families in Britain are worth £500 billion the same wealth as half of the UK combined.