Benefits trap

When I saw the documentary Benefits Street, François Rabelais’ words in The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel came to mind: “One half of the world does not know how the other half lives.”

Millions are locked in a life of dependency with no incentive to aspire to better. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith rightly equates his reforms with those of Shaftesbury and Wilberforce, who had to battle with vested interests and the accepted wisdom of the age.

The fact is our welfare system is distorted – an entrapment rather than the intended safety net – and encourages criminal behaviour among those in its fell clutches.

(Rev Dr) John
Cameron

Howard Place

St Andrews