Cameron: I'm sick of shirkers

DAVID Cameron yesterday vowed to force scroungers off sickness benefit and on to the DOLE to end Britain’s “something for nothing” welfare system.


The Tory leader said he was not afraid to see unemployment figures RISE as part of his crackdown on shirkers.


He said he wants a system where those who can work do work. People would no longer be able to sit at home and refuse a job, he promised.


Mr Cameron spelt out his vision as he unveiled the Tories’ green paper on welfare reform.


But he immediately came under fire from Labour, who claimed there was a £3billion black hole in his plans.



Mr Cameron claimed ministers had been afraid to force people off sickness handouts in case it triggered a rise in the number of jobless.


But he said: “It’s plain wrong to be deterred from necessary reform because the headline unemployment figure may go up.” The jobless would have to join tough back-to-work schemes run by private firms and charities. But Mr Cameron said the organisations would only be paid if they found claimants long-term jobs.


People who refused three job offers would lose their benefits for three years. Claimants who spent more than two years on Jobseekers’ Allowance would have to pick up litter and tackle graffiti. If they refused, they should be stripped of their benefits.


Mr Cameron added: “Having a job and working is good for you. Not just because you can pay the bills and put food on the table, but it is a way to get on and make something of your life. You can’t sit at home and say, ‘I’m not going to work’.”


But the plans were slammed last night by Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain, who claimed they left a £3billion hole in Conservative spending plans.


He also rubbished the proposal to force the long-term jobless to carry out community work.


Mr Hain said: “International experience shows that full-time activity distracts claimants from jobseeking and delays a return to paid work.”