New Labour jobless eviction threat condemned by Lib Dems

The Liberal Democrats have condemned the latest proposals from New Labour Minister, Caroline Flint, about linking the right to a Council house to looking for work.

Parliamentary Spokesman for Newcastle East, Cllr Stephen Psallidas, commented:

"This amazing pronouncement shows just how far to the authoritarian right-wing that New Labour have swung. They have clearly now decided to completely abandon their traditional supporters.

Of course there are substantial numbers of people who could work but aren't working. Such people need to receive strong encouragement and effective support to find work, possibly with financial penalties for the most work-shy. But there are many who cannot work, or cannot find work, for valid reasons. With New Labour's latest wheeze, they would all be thrown onto the streets, along with their children, thereby swapping one problem for a much bigger one.

This proposal actually masks the failure of New Labour to get the large numbers of long-term unemployed back into work. Rather than trying to deal with the problem positively, they are resorting to crude threats.

It seems that increasing aggression against the weak is the hallmark of both Tory and New Labour policy these days. Where will Ms Flint's proposals lead? Perhaps anyone who is not working will be denied NHS treatment? Maybe their children will be refused school places? Will long-term joblessness become a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment? Given New Labour's march to the right, nothing would surprise me!"