A CLEAR division has opened between Labour and the SNP over plans to radically reform the welfare system and encourage thousands of people back into work.
Campaigning in Glasgow East, the constituency with the highest number of people on benefits in the UK, the Labour candidate Margaret Curran is standing by the government's strong-arm approach – but her SNP rival, John Mason, believes Labour has scored an own goal only days before Thursday's crucial ballot.
Labour's concern was further increased when it appeared likely that Glasgow would be one of the first areas to pilot the reforms.
James Purnell, the UK work and pensions secretary, yesterday announced in Westminster plans to scrap incapacity benefit by 2013 and end income support. He said this would be the biggest shake-up of the modern welfare state since the Beveridge Report of the 1940s.
Tory leader David Cameron gave his support – effectively guaranteeing the plans a safe Commons passage and neutralising any opposition from disgruntled Labour back-benchers.
The aim is to improve the UK employment rate from 74.9 per cent to 80 per cent.
The benefits – claimed by around 10,000 people in Glasgow East – will be replaced with "Employment Support Allowance" for those with medical problems that limit their ability to work and JobSeekers' Allowance for those who are fit to work.
All Incapacity Benefit claimants will undergo medical tests to determine what capacity they have for employment, and only full-time carers and disabled people "with the greatest needs" will be exempt from being expected to find work.
Unemployed drug addicts who tell lies to qualify for benefits will be forced to repay the money and could face jail, while jobless people who take drugs will be banned from receiving dole money unless they accept treatment.
Lone parents with children aged seven or more will be expected to seek work.
The long-term unemployed will face US-style "work for dole" programmes requiring them to undertake useful activities to ensure they make a "fair contribution" in return for state support.
Mr Mason told The Scotsman: "Obviously, an own goal by Labour does come to mind. It's making a lot of people worry. It's being leaked out piecemeal and we still don't understand clear details about the whole scheme.
"The idea of scrapping incapacity benefit, which for many people who are genuinely disabled and genuinely ill is a lifeline, makes it very, very worrying for people."
He said it was "almost inevitable" that some would always try to milk the system but added: "The Conservative and New Labour idea that you therefore squeeze down the benefits, just squeeze out the people who misuse the system, I can't live with that.
"We need to give a helping hand up. There are people out there who would love to get a job but they're just not finding a job."
SNP depute First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, attacked senior Labour politicians including the Prime Minister for failing to visit Glasgow East and explain the policies to the electorate.
But Ms Curran, who declined to distance herself from the "ambitious" proposals and denied the timing of the announcement would harm her hopes, said that "work, regeneration and jobs" were her priorities in the by-election.
She said: "We have always said we need to tackle unemployment. We need to tackle people who have been left to languish on benefits by the Tories in the past. We want to create opportunities and skills for people."
She said Labour had to stand up for its policies and find ways for unemployed people to access an estimated 10,000 vacancies across Glasgow – with more opportunities coming from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
She added: "We are damned if we do and damned if we don't. The principles of it are absolutely at the centre of the kind of work we need to take forward for the East End of Glasgow."
Shake-up puts pressure on claimants to 'earn' pay-outs with community workTHE new rules on out-of-work benefits will place a duty on claimants to "earn" their pay-outs as far as possible.
Those claiming jobseekers' allowance will be subject to the greatest pressure. Those who have been claiming for a year will have to perform four weeks of community work, while those receiving the benefit for two years will have to go into full-time community service. This could involve sweeping the streets or helping to remove graffiti.
For those on incapacity benefit, there will be additional checks to ensure claims are not fraudulent. They will have to pass a medical with a second doctor, one who is not known to them, for money to continue.
The government's aim is to cut from 4.5 million to 3.5 million the number of claimants over the next seven years. The proposals, contained in a green paper, received a broad welcome at Westminster, with Tories claiming Labour had stolen their policies.
Drug addicts will also be targeted and will have to agree to rehabilitation treatment in return for their allowance.
James Purnell, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said: "It's only fair we ensure that a life on benefit is not an option."
He said every present incapacity benefit (IB) claimant would be transferred to a new system – meaning a return to work or a higher level of benefit depending on assessment – between 2010 and 2013.
This, he said would mean the government would "look to see what people can do, not what they can't".
He claimed the proposals would increase the use of the private and voluntary sectors and allow them to be paid out of benefits savings they generated.
Mr Purnell said another goal was to ensure that no-one was "written off"; the pathways to work programme aimed to help people come off IB and into work.
He said: "We will review the medical test to ensure it reflects the latest evidence that work is generally good for people's wellbeing and we will reassess all existing claimants to ensure that they are on the right benefit for them."
Those with the "greatest needs" will get a higher benefit rate, rising from £86.35 to £102.10. Mr Purnell added: "For the vast majority, (employment and support allowance] will be a temporary benefit, not a permanent snare."
The minister said there would be more help for disabled people to get work, with a doubling of the Access to Work budget. "We want to put disabled people in control, not under the control of others."
He added that ministers also wanted to strengthen parental responsibility. For the first time, parents on benefits would be able to keep all their maintenance payments. Both parents will also be required to register the birth of their child.
And Mr Purnell vowed to simplify the "bewildering complexity" of the benefits system by accepting the recommendations of a report by banker David Freud.
"In the past people were able, in many cases encouraged, to spend a lifetime on benefits. Once they had signed on, the welfare system all too often switched off. There was no expectation that anything should change and little support to make it happen.
"The green paper ends all that. It will put us on the road to our ambition of an 80 per cent employment rate, with a million people off IB by 2015, the eradication of child poverty by 2020 and equality for disabled people by 2025."
Chris Grayling, the Tories' work and pensions spokesman, said many Labour MPs would not have wanted the proposals published three days before the crucial Glasgow East by-election – an area of "high benefit dependency".
Mr Grayling said: "Much of today's package is a straight lift from our green paper published in January."
Two days to go: How the main contenders are faringMARGARET CURRAN, LABOUR
PERFORMANCE SO FAR7/10
Will deserve a lot of credit if she snatches victory from jaws of defeat. "I'm fighting my own fight," she said – and she's right.
STRENGTHS Experienced and determined with reputation as a fighter for the East End. Has nine years as an MSP under her belt, with her Holyrood constituency overlapping with the parliamentary one.
WEAKNESSESGuilt by association with Gordon Brown's unpopular government at Westminster. Unwilling to criticise the party.
HIGH POINTStepping in to offer herself as the candidate after Labour suffered a disaster when the expected candidate failed to attend a nomination meeting. As fifth choice, she appears the wisest choice of all.
LOW POINT"Superstar" backer, Taggart actor John Michie, is revealed to have been a strong backer of independence, making a BBC film on the subject last year.
BEST QUOTE "If you want a job done, ask a busy woman" – when asked whether she was taking on too much by standing.
WORST QUOTE "I don't think the Prime Minister's future depends on one by-election result."
MUST DOGet the vote out – and show herself as strong advocate of Scottish Labour, not New Labour or London Labour. She is clearly popular.
MUST AVOID Any sense of complacency among Labour voters.
ODDS 4/11 favourite
JOHN MASON, SNPPERFORMANCE SO FAR6/10
Of diminutive stature and soft-spoken, he has not stood out – a situation not aided by the frequent appearances at side of Alex Salmond, the larger-than-life First Minister.
STRENGTHS Has the biggest personal mandate of any councillor in Glasgow City Chambers, where he leads the SNP opposition. Lives in constituency – unlike Ms Curran, despite her claims.
WEAKNESSES Has been dubbed Alex Salmond's "message boy" and looks uneasy in the soap opera of a by-election of significance to the whole UK.
HIGH POINT Poking fun at Margaret Curran's pretence that she had lived in the East End "all my life" – when in fact Ms Curran has lived in the more affluent south side for about 20 years.
LOW POINT Allowed himself to be portrayed as a "hardline" Nationalist more interested in independence than improving the lot of his constituents.
BEST QUOTE "This part of Glasgow is not getting the resources it needs and deserves" – arguing that Scotland should retain North Sea oil revenue.
WORST QUOTE "It's the first concession the Chancellor has made because he's scared of me going to Westminster."
MUST DOStep out of the shadow of the First Minister and remind people how effective an SNP victory will be in sending a message to No 10.
MUST AVOID Being seen as close in any way to the Tories at Westminster.
ODDS 15/8 outsider
IAN ROBERTSON, LIB DEM
PERFORMANCE SO FAR8/10
Rated most impressive performer by the media pack. Strong in debates and not afraid to argue – in a level-headed way – with questioners.
STRENGTHSHighly articulate maths teacher and former star debater at university is clearly destined for great things – assuming Lib Dems find him a winnable seat.
WEAKNESSESInexperience is less damaging than being a Lib Dem. Appears to possess the sharpest mind and greatest potential.
HIGH POINT Unveils campaign to save Parkhead fire station at a time more houses are being built and with the Commonwealth Games just round corner.
LOW POINT Upsets trade unionists when he says that privatisation is not necessarily a bad thing if it leads to better public services.
BEST QUOTE "A life for a life? I can't agree with that position" – when asked whether he would support tougher sentences for knife killers.
WORST QUOTE "The only thing (the SNP] is committed to is conning the voters of Glasgow East and the people of Scotland."
MUST DO Develop a clarity of purpose around the Lib Dem message – the party is lacking a "unique selling point".
MUST AVOID Losing third place to the Tories or either of the socialist parties. A poor performance would reflect badly on national party leader Nick Clegg.
ODDS 100/1 rank outsider
DAVENA RANKIN, TORY
PERFORMANCE SO FAR4.5/10
Despite resurgence of the Tories in England, has the unenviable task of winning votes from a sceptical – if not outwardly hostile – electorate.
STRENGTHS Born in Glasgow, the well-turned-out 35-year-old single mum is secretary of the Glasgow Caledonian University branch of Unison and is an experienced Tory candidate.
WEAKNESSES Can look as scared as a rabbit in the headlights – perhaps no surprise, given the long-standing unpopularity of the Tories among many Glaswegians.
HIGH POINTHaving star Tories such as David Cameron, William Hague and George Osborne make the 400-mile trip from London to offer their support.
LOW POINTGets herself in a bit of a muddle trying to justify David Cameron's comments about a "broken society".
BEST QUOTE "I don't see any conflict in my union activity and being a Conservative. As far as I'm concerned, both are about standing up for people and fighting on their behalf."
WORST QUOTE "Here in Glasgow East, the SNP is still trying to be the criminals' best friend."
MUST DO Emphasise "One Nation" Tory beliefs and Scots common sense at a time the whole country is feeling the pinch.
MUST AVOID Fourth place or worse.
ODDS100/1 rank outsider
* Have you got a question for a Glasgow East by-election? Let us ask it for you! Click here to post your questions for the Labour, SNP, Conservative and Lib-Dem candidates, courtesy of our partners at www.yoosk.com. The most voted for queries will be put to the candidates and published here at www.scotsman.com *The full article contains 2260 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
