Welfare Reforms and Poverty

Debate between Stephen Mosley and David T C Davies

Monday 13th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Mosley]

Had my hon. Friend attended Work and Pensions questions this morning, he would have heard Labour Members going on about the work capability assessment. Which Government introduced it? It was, of course, the previous Labour Government.

[David T. C. Davies]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. I believe we would all like to see some consistency from the Opposition—both on the economy and on what they are really planning to do to benefits. In the meantime, let me commend both the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Front-Bench teams, who have been prepared to put aside their personal poll ratings—frankly, these are unpopular decisions—and do what is right for this country rather than what is right for winning elections: namely, getting the deficit down and solving the long-term problem of worklessness. That will do far more to tackle poverty than anything we hear from Labour Members tonight.