Claimants are set to suffer (From South Wales Argus)

Claimants are set to suffer

11:33am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Letters

THE RECENT government reshuffle was not only a sharp turn to the right both politically and ideologically not seen since the height of Thatcherism, it was also a statement of intent by the prime minister of what to expect for the remainder of this Parliament – severe austerity on a scale not seen in Britain since 1945-1954 and yet more draconian cuts in public services and expenditure.

More ominously, it will lead to the new universal credit benefit. The introduction of a pilot scheme to prepare people in Caerphilly county for the implementation of the universal credit benefit means this scenario is fast approaching. For the people of Caerphilly county who are dependent on benefits just to exist, this is a very frightening prospect. The muted opposition from all the major political parties in Wales on this subject has been a bit of a surprise, but not a total surprise. These parties, in a bid to become more voter friendly at election times, have lost their traditional values. This loss of values means the losers in this will be the people of Gwent who are reliant on benefits.

Wayne Thomas, Monmouth Walk, Markham