[Margaret Pilkington]

to be fair Cashy, I don't think that is what he said.
It is obvious that there are people who should not be on the incapacity/invalidity benefit because when it was proposed that they attend medical interviews many of them voluntarily gave up the benefit in favour of a lower paid benefit...and some even opted to find work........and yes...before you tell me that these medical interviews are unkind, unfair or whatever label you want to hang on them........we cannot keep paying those who could work(in some capacity) to stay at home.

One of my friends is a midwife in Rochdale...her caseload includes families on one of the estates where only a minority work...so people like us....you and me Cashy, are paying for them to stay at home.
I do not mind giving those in genuine need a helping hand...but we, in this country seem to give to everybody, whether they have paid into the pot or not.
Surely this cannot be good fiscal sense...and before you tell me it is not the claimants fault, it is the fault of the system.....I know.
governments in the past have just tinkered with the edges of the problem...none of them have had the gonads to sort it out because it isn't a vote winner .
The whole system needs to be reformed........benefits should not be a way of life, but they should be a helping hand to tide you over the tough times...but then those claiming benefits must take some responsibility for being honest too(or is that just expecting too much).