http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25666442

It would certainly tie into IDS' 'better off in work' mantra, wouldn't it?

A decent minimum wage would make the difference between unemployment and work much more clearer. Though since most politicians fail to understand the rational decision not to seek a full time job to be just £5 better off I cannot see them understanding the issues involved. A living wage should be the target for all companies who provide low wage jobs.

How come a hardcore socialist like you is looking at things through monetary values? Or is the good of society only important when it means somebody is getting something for free?

For myself the rational things is not to be a parasite of the society and get a job even if will be even £5 better off. I would actually prefer having a job even if I was worse off. But in your world that is irrational, because it is better to live off work of others. You really are a disgrace you sanctimonius[self moderated]!

As has been widely pointed out, the vast majority of benefit payments actually go to people in work who simply cannot afford to live on their salary alone because the minimum wage level is just to low. It's not a matter of economics, it's a matter of simple human decency. Oh wait, this is the [LIFTED] Tories we're talking about.

Depends on what you define as benefits. If you include the state pension, working people are the second biggest recipient group behind pensioners. They do still vastly outnumber people on job seeker's allowance though, so the logic of your post holds.

Yes, that's the spirit! Don't bother with reasoned debate, just jump straight in the deep end and start throwing insults. Well played.

That is kind of the tradition here for both sides of the political divide. You never see any recognition that the Tories honestly think their plans will help people, it's always assumed that they are devils in pursuit of pure evil.

If everybody's starting assumption is that to disagree with my conclusions is to be a disgraceful thief, then there's little point wasting time on reason. The purpose of reason is after all to arrive at conclusions, but if those are all assumed in the first place...