Last week, the Government held a debate on the annual Social Security Benefits Up-Rating Order which exposed the Liberal Democrats as not just uncaring and cynical, but incompetent.  The Government is beyond repair but the Conservatives have a duty to help the most vulnerable even if the other two parties will not.

Speaking today, Edward Garnier said:

“The Order was something of a curate’s egg: good in parts but the bad bits did not mean we should block the good bits. We Conservatives welcome any benefits up–rating so far as it goes and no matter how unfairly distributed.  However, this up-rating is shot through with some deeply cynical decisions. For example, we are concerned that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pensioners will be worse off as a result of the freezing of additional payments attached to many state pensions.”

Shadow Minister for Older People, Nigel Waterson MP added:

“Another example is that the Government announced a 1.5 per cent increase in child benefit, disability living allowance, carers allowance and incapacity benefit. However, as no funds will be provided next year, that amounts to a crude pre-election bribe for one year only, followed by a real terms cut.

“Despite our criticisms and misgivings, we voted for the Order. To do otherwise would have risked depriving millions of the most vulnerable people - pensioners, people with disabilities, struggling families, of the extra help that they need and deserve.

“Yet the Liberal Democrats voted against this Order. Furthermore, the Liberal Democrat spokesman for work and pensions has tabled Early Day Motion 957, which calls for members to oppose the provisions of the Order. The effect would have been to freeze all benefits across the board.

“So we have the bizarre position taken by the Liberal Democrats which is that they were voting ‘No’ but in the desperate hope that they would lose the vote.  This is at best absurd posturing, and at worst a cynical attempt to deny help to the most vulnerable in our society – pensioners, people with disabilities and struggling families.”