Tories retreat on hated benefit schemes

Protesting against Maximus in Portsmouth (Pic: Jon Woods)

Private firms paid billions to hound disabled and unemployed people could lose their contracts.

The Sunday Times newspaper reported that new work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb is looking to “get out of” problematic contracts.

In particular, he wants to dump Maximus, which tests sick and disabled claimants of Employment Support Allowance to see if they are “fit for work”.

This retreat could bring the end of the hated tests closer.

Meanwhile, the amount spent on Work Programme providers is to be slashed from £2 billion last year to just £130 million.

Currently people who are unemployed for more than a year can be forced to attend full time placements with firms.

It’s good that cracks are showing in these hated schemes. But the Tories are still waging war on poor and disabled people.

Around 40 protesters from Pembrokeshire People’s Assembly held a demonstration outside Crabb’s constituency office last Saturday.