http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014 ... ord-tebbit

They're all on benefits because they want to be, you know

I'd pay someone to come round and dig up ours regularly. It's a real PITA!!

I'm hoping he was metaphorically saiding people shouldn't be allowed to plan a lifesyle based on sitting at home sponging off the state long term. Because if he actually said what he means........

Maybe his moat needs cleaning out.

Benefits are there to stop unemployed people from starving to death, not to act as a gateway to slave labour. The system is far from perfect and people do abuse it, but not everyone does. The vast majority would rather have a job.

Personally I think a bit of community work - not full time - should be required to allow you to collect benefits

If you want a job but are unable to get one then it will help keep you in the work routinen and I dont see why you would complain

I have some sympathy for that suggestion. Total up the benefits you get and say you have to do something around (benefits/(minimum wage rate*some small multiple)) hours of community related stuff. Not something that should be a proper job for someone else but stuff that is as you say meaningful and stops being people becoming institutionalised to being 'out of work'.