Conservative business minister Nick Boles told charity volunteers that some benefits sanctions were ‘inhuman’ and that the system needed to be changed. However, when his comments were published in a local newspaper he quickly did a u-turn, claiming that he is a ‘strong supporter’ of sanctions.{jcomments on}
The Grantham Journal reported the comments made by Boles during a visit to a breakfast being provided to homeless people at a church in the town.
Volunteers told Boles about a claimant who was sanctioned for missing an appointment whilst staying with his newborn baby, who was in intensive care.
Boles responded that:
“The sanctions are a worry, and do need to be looked at.
“I do understand why there needs to be a disciplined system and there needs to be a process they go through, but I do think there are too many of these cases where it does seem inhumanly inflexible.”
Boles added that nothing could be done in the run up to the election but that:
“The beginning of a parliamentary term, when people are looking at things afresh, is the best time to make a change.”
However, Boles backtracked very rapidly yesterday after his comments were reported in the national press.
He told the Guardian that:
“Benefit sanctions are an essential part of our reforms to end the something-for-nothing culture and they have helped record numbers of people back into work since 2010. I am a strong supporter of them in both principle and practice – those who can work should work.
“Of course, we need to make sure that the decision to impose sanctions is properly applied and employment advisers work hard to make sure special circumstances are taken into account.”
