Political Claptrap

[lancsdave]

A few days after it's posted on here that we are possibly losing a major after school facility we get some up his own arse politician ( probably one who hasn't even changed a nappy ) telling us that childcare facilites in this country are great. Will one of you wannabee politicians on here please let me know if all politicians are born without a brain cell or you just lose the one you have when you get elected to parliament ?


Lone parent benefits 'may change'



The rules on lone parents' benefits may be changed in a government attempt to get more back into work earlier.
Single parents can currently receive Income Support without having to seek work until their youngest child is 16.
But Work Secretary John Hutton told BBC Radio 4 he thought it not "unreasonable" to cut that age to 12.
The Tories said Labour had failed over 10 years to reform welfare. The Lib Dems welcomed the move if the savings were invested in providing childcare.
Charity One Parent Families said it could affect many parents caring for disabled children.
The Office for National Statistics estimates there are 1.69m lone parents with dependent children in the UK.
Low employment
In a speech, Mr Hutton said Britain has one of the lowest levels of lone parent employment in Europe, with almost half on benefits.



He said up to a third of lone parents move on to incapacity benefit once their child benefit ends as their youngest reaches 16.
Mr Hutton has already unveiled plans to get one million incapacity benefit claimants back into work over the next 10 years, saving £7bn a year.
"If we are to eradicate child poverty, then I believe we will also need to go further in challenging existing assumptions about who - and at what point - someone should be in work," he said.
Plans welcomed
"We also know the difference that helping lone parents into work can make. A significant proportion of our progress so far in tackling child poverty is due to helping lone parents move into work."
In countries with highly regarded welfare systems such as Sweden and Denmark, up to 80% of lone parents are in work, he said. In Britain, just 56.5% of lone parents are in work.
For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary, Philip Hammond, said: ¿Work for parents, both couples and lone parents, must be the key weapon against child poverty.
"Labour have had 10 years to sort out the welfare system and have failed. A last minute rush at the end of Tony Blair's reign is not going to solve the deep problems plaguing the welfare system in this country."
Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman David Laws welcomed the plans, but said any money saved must be used to improve childcare.



"It is essential that single parents are supported to stay at home with young children.
"But the fact that British single parents can receive Income Support without any requirement to look for work until their youngest child is 16, is out of line with the rest of Europe."
Labour MP Lynne Jones, who played a prominent role in the backbench rebellion when 47 MPs voted against cuts in lone parent benefits in the late 1990s, warned the plans would "cause conflict" within the Labour party.
She told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "It does dismay me that we are still pandering to this stereotype of the lazy, work-shy, lone parent who doesn't do a very good job of bringing up her children anyway."
Parents struggle
Clare Tickell, of children's charity NCH, said many parents wanted to work but struggled because of a lack of support.
"Encouraging lone parents to work is a step towards tackling child poverty but they need a package of flexible support to help them juggle the demands of family life and employment," she said.
Chris Pond, chief executive of the charity One Parent Families, said 66% of lone parents with a youngest child aged between 11 and 16 were already in work. As the government's target was 70%, he said, "this isn't going to take you very far". A quarter of the parents that would be affected were caring for a disabled child, Mr Pond added.

[accymel]

Anyone got Mr Huttons address???

If the karma war on AW is bad thats sod all in comparrision this guys ears are going to get!!! MMM i'll donate my circumstances to trial that out for him

The so called improved childcare that was promised passed me by completely im still trapped as i was 8 years ago & to no improvement, some of us actually have no choice & i'll show the barsteward what a lazy backside is & i put a grand on it - that its his that wins it!!!

For those of you unware of a lone parent life & has only the stereotypes to imagine that on then get this..... "how come this country kicks the people that stand up to their responsibilities ?????" Tell me Mr barsteward Hutton, why some many absent parents are free from their part of responsiblity ?? Many absent parents dont adhere to contact, pay maintenance/child support or give a chuffing stuff but are allowed to carry on breeding scotfree?!?! - they are ones costing this country & abusing those that do contribute as much as possible to their offspring, also many attitudes with the youth on pro-creation & responsibility that lacks so much in lessons at school!! Tell me another Mr barsteward Hutton, if this policy is going to go thro then the impact on society will be horrendous especially in disadvantaged areas or with poor childcare facilities, where someone here pointed out that youths will be on the street getting upto alsorts of anti-social behaviour!! MMm strange how society is quick to jump to its the parents fault, even worse for lone parents cos theres only one of us in the family doing mum & dad at the same time & juggling family i kid u not its not easy at all!!

So as i myself said to the jobcentre last year when this very suggestion that my 2 soon to be teenagers under the age of 16 have to be "latch door Kids", pity a lot of judgemental neighbours with next doors teens running the house amuck - even the sensible ones, i kid u not [i myself lived near a LP family who had to do just that, the trouble is to do both go to work & watch kids at home is impossible, i saw her really struggle plus the hassle she got for it]. Lots want to work but without affordable & localised childcare catering for schools especially in the area then this stupid idea wont work & wont save the country owt either!! What about those with disabled/medically in assistance children??

I put that point to you & directly to Mr Hutton himself & see what answers he has for that!!! Plans in theory rarely come out without a clear back fire as this has!!

Now wheres Jeremy Kyle??

[accymel]

Can imagine this senario......being constantly phoned up with complaints at work & "oh im sorry boss i've got to go home early because my kids are causing nuisance cos they cant be supervised properly as im here at work yet again" mmmm do u think i'd last long!!

Grrrrrrrrr this subject grrrr!!! I know 2 parent families struggle with working around the kids but its so much harder in fact impossible cos i've tried & still hope there is a job where i can work while they are at school & home when they come home, before the suggestions of school dinner job come in - i did that & worn tshirt still it didnt get me of IS!!! Teaching/asisistant/school office hours are still not much help unless u are lucky to get job at yr kids school, my kids school has fiercely turned me down & wouldnt even hire me for free for my TA course!! I dont drive so would have to be local - plus the fight for jobs as so many have same idea!! especially as it was promoted 2 years ago for a career scheme for lone parents new deal.

I think thats it as in employment that revolves round school times?? unless they invent a cloning device so i could do 2 seperate things at the same time!

Even the local Lone parent group in Hyndburn i chaired for a year closed down just before christmas due to lack of support & lack of memberships.

[WillowTheWhisp]

They seem to have this pie in the sky idea that lone parents should go to work and their children should be cared for by professionals of one kind or another - at what cost? These flippin (am I allowed to say flippin?) professionals cost more than the single Mum is likely to earn, especially if she has more than one child - so what does that gain anybody?

[accymel]

The most annoying thing is the double standard within the world of politics, that parents should look after their kids is all sence of the word but single parents oh well it dont count for u cos u working is more important

We cant win either way, it should be a balance that unfortunately with the diversity of single parent issues will always be hard to do. One thing i have discovered this past year how much single parents are isolated by their status - some refusing to or feel ashamed to admit, which is one problem our group found hard to establish the confidence & promotion for this issue locally despite us being the only group to recognise single parents in community, due to stigma & vunerability issues being the hardest to break unfortunately thus hiding in the woodwork, of all minority groups locally the single parent one is much not catered for nor really recognised as such as u can tell with the MP's attitude & no wonder!!

[WillowTheWhisp]

It's funny how the people who pontificate about what a single parent should or shouldn't be doing are the ones least likely to have had the experience themselves.

Rearing children is no easy task and if the kids misbehave the parents always get the flak.

[garinda]

It's a hard one.

My Mum was brought up by my Grandmother, a single Mum, on a then pittance of a War Widow's pension. She worked in the mill, and my Mum and her sister were farmed out to relatives. They had no choice but to be latch key kids, as a lot of children today, with two parents at home, are as well.

I didn't know until I read this that Income Support could be claimed by a single parent until that child is sixteen. That could, though I'm not saying it is, be open to abuse, by young parents who have made a career choice to live off the State, albeit not a very well paid career.

I certainly sympathise, as I can have no real understanding of the problems that lone parents, especially with absentee partners, face.

With about a fifth of the school year being holidays, I can totally see the need for safe, secure, and affordable places where children can go in the school holidays.

Like I said, all the problems I can't fully understand, and if reforms mean more hardship for people trying to bring up their families you'd have my support.

[shillelagh]

I dont have kids but i have looked after one of my nieces and my 2 nephews often enough during the school holidays and after school when my sister or bro's were working.

I know from working at a sports centre we do run courses for kids during the holidays - but they are expensive.

How are parents going to be able to pay for them when normally during school hours they dont pay for the care as they are at school and its bad enough for some parents to pay for care after school. I know some people who are in full time work that the wife's pay goes directly to pay for looking after the kids while she goes to work. They have about £15 left over from paying for looking after the kids out of her wage. Thats not a lot. But the problem is finding the nurseries or childminders to look after the kids. Especially after they hit school age and become teenagers - name a teenager who wants to go to a childminder at the age of 14 - they want a key to the front door.

[accymel]

True point Rindy yes 2 parent families have lach key kiddies too but least to some degree between the 2 something can be worked out, especially as most families may need to rely on a 2 wage - harder still doing it all alone on 1 wage. The other main point is the school holidays & regular erregularity of them incl inset days, which is so hard work to fit around a 9-5 hrs+ per day shift. Childminder flaws, ie during holiday time & if u should not need a week for a minder that u still have to pay regardless of whether that child is there or not to secure the placement when back at work. Another flaw is when child is off school/nursery sick so u have to take time off & lose wages, & needing a child flexible boss that is understanding of that. These are considerations for 2 parent families but least can support each other, as a lone parent hasnt got that.

Biggest great debate point is the 'career choice' within the young some not all mind u as u watch Jezza as much as me u will know that severe lack of responsiblity plays a part, 2nd to that my bugbear of select people claming the so called lone parentage but really arn't to abuse the state - that pees me off more than owt, as i found out with one course at least a third weren't technically in the lone parent bracket or did a short term to get on the new deal advantage. Unfortunately as with anything within the state system of benefits those that abuse it tars those that dont!!

Seems like that it hasn't gone a huge long way of acceptance, yes siblings were shared among the family [another thing thats changed is external family support & help which most dont have now], my grandfather was a lone parent of 8 that some had to go to a relation, but he worked, i come from good stock & respect him for that, seems with the lack of respect & with kids these days, parents are put into impossible positions.

[accymel]

childminder mind kids upto 11 at most - they dont take on high school kids which becomes a problem.

[garinda]

It's a different problem, but similar in a way, in regard to childcare.

Both my brother and his wife work full-time, and both kids are in different private schools, which have longer holidays than any state schools. They are in the fortunate position to make that choice, and that is their decision, and they cut back on other things.

However they too struggle when it comes to holidays. The holiday club they attend in Spring Hill only takes children up to eleven, so for one of them this is the last time they will be going. Again all available family sitters work, except me. I help out when I can, but because of health reasons, I'm sometimes not fit too look after them, when they are dropped off at seven o'clock. It's difficult.

I know how hard it can be for two parents, and like I said can't even begin to understand how single parents manage, epecially ones who receive no help at all from absent partners.

Mel, I've been lucky enough to meet your children, and no matter how hard a struggle it is for you, take pride in the fact you have great children, and that they are a credit to you, and I wish there was someone willing to give you the help and support you deserve.

[accymel]

Awwww rindy dont make me well up [sniffle sniffle], i do my best like any other loving parent, hey i aint telling kiddies that they might start slacking, tho u gained some little friends too heheheheheehe - i do best i can for the loves of my life

I dont bother about it as such, being one parent is the only thing i really know been one for a long time - most of my kiddies lives & beyond - its now 2nd nature to me i get by

Just stoopid meddling Ministers that get my goat as what the thread topic did, as many people here have said that the childcare issue seriously needs to be looked at & improved for all parents not just lone ones, giving opportunity for those to work with some dignity & to earn money to live!! & that has failed for a lot of parents never mind failing those that need it!!

[cashman]

like rindy i have no understanding of the problems, but agree wholeheartedly with mels post about Hutton. i was brought up with me grandma so i suppose i was a latchkey kid.i know theres people who screw the system. but decent parents are SCREWED more.

[shillelagh]

Like i said - i looked after my nephews when they were kids and one of my nieces. Id go and pick my nephews up from school (this was when i was driving) on Broadway at 3pm well by the time they got to the car it was normally 3.15 and be back and pick my niece up at Rising Bridge at 3.20.

Then i'd look after them until their parents came to pick them up. Sometimes my niece would go home about 3.45 sometimes 5pm my nephews would stay till normally 6pm - id either poison them with my cooking or take em to Maccydees - the kids could never make their minds up either.

The thing is they are family. A lot of people dont have that now. They move all over the country or even if they are still in the same town - their parents might still be working or away for the winter or on holiday etc. It's different from even when i was a kid - my mum was a stay at home, but my mates mum worked but she was a home help and only worked till 3pm so she was home when we all arrived home from school.

[chav1]

it was announced today that childcare prices are rising out of control on the news

the government will end up paying more in miders etc than just paying peopel to stay at home


i do agree that the age needs lowering and parents shoudl be made to look for work earlier than when their kids reach 16

if a 14 year old child can babysit then it can sure as hell look after its self so parents can go to work and if a parent suddenly goes on incapacity benefit when their kids reach 16 then that claim should be thouroughly investigated