A COUNCILLOR says the Government needs to invest in measures to help ensure people do not need to rely on benefits.
The Prime Minister has rowed back on some proposed welfare reforms after a number of backbenchers threatened to vote against the plans.
The benefits u-turn follows a previous rethink on the winter fuel allowance.
Cllr Michael Galvin, Labour representative for Summerfield and All Saints at Lichfield District Council, said the need to revamp the welfare system was needed – but said the Government needed to look at the bigger picture.
He said:
“I appreciate that I might sound like a Tory, but I do see the need for reform. But this wasn’t the way to do it.
“I work with people with severe and enduring mental health conditions. Many of them, once in recovery, want to work to contribute, but there is very little support and too many zero hours jobs.
“People can’t afford to give up their benefits without the guarantee of a fixed income. This is where the Government should start.
“I have depression and anxiety, but I generally manage it well. When I was first diagnosed I was having problems at work. The union was involved and advised me to resign on health grounds and they would help me claim benefits.
“But I wanted to work, so through my GP – and with a mixture of psychotherapy and medication – I recovered.
“The Government needs to invest in helping people to not need benefits. The talking treatments are not available now.”
Cllr Galvin added that the Labour party needed to make sure it stood as an alternative to the narrative of the Conservatives and Reform when it came to addressing issues at a national and local level.
He said:
“The state pension does not come from investments – it comes from taxes.
“With the population ageing and birth rate dropping there is not enough people to support it through taxes. The Government needs to tell us this and explain why changes need to happen.
“We have a generation of people who have become dependent on benefits, some with conditions that have been over-medicalised and these, along with the ageing population, will create a perfect storm.
“In some ways I think we’re going too far and too fast with the green agenda. Norway is a rich nation as they are still opening oil fields. I think we should use this wealth to create jobs and invest in putting past wrongs right. I don’t believe we should carry on as we always have because it will lead to disaster.
“I’d also have a wealth tax like the Spanish do. Let’s look different to the Tories and stop blaming immigrants.
“We voted for change and this Government should be providing it with better messaging.”
