Politics: Harman plans work-ethic route to welfare reform
The Government's `big issue' is social exclusion, the Social Security Secretary said yesterday. Glenda Cooper, Social Affairs Correspondent, looks at Harriet Harman's plans to combat a divided nation.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Harriet Harman yesterday ruled out higher benefits as a way of tackling unemployment saying that the welfare state would be "reformed around the work ethic".
"We want to make the mainstream economy - with its opportunities and its risks - the main path out of exclusion for all people of working age," she told an audience at the launch of the Centre for Analysis for Social Exclusion, an independent unit at the London School of Economics.
The centre was opened as the Government sets up its own social exclusion unit in the Cabinet Office. Ms Harman said that the two events were "enabling the academic world and the Government to come together to confront what is the big issue of this administration".
"Work is the only route to sustained financial independence. but it is also much more," she said. "Work is not just about earning a living. It is a way of life.... [We will] ensure that work pays wherever possible by implementing a national minimum wage and reforming the tax and benefit systems."
Saying the Government wanted to rebuild an "one- nation" society, she defined the socially excluded as those deprived of work, education, material goods, transport, healthcare and financial services..
The ESRC centre will use newly available national survey data to follow people from year to year to investigate how their incomes change and look at issues such as the long-term effects of changing family patterns. It will also track the fortunes of particular areas to explore why some people improve and why some are locked in deprivation. "It is crucial that we understand how the areas in which people live affect their lives and life chances," said Dr Anne Power who will co- ordinate the research.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments