[West Ender]

The only way to solve the benefits-scrounger problem is to remove the benefits. When people either have to work or starve, they work.

Look at Tax Credits. It is only necessary for a single parent, or one of a couple, to work 16 hours a week in order to qualify for Working Tax Credit. Child Tax Credit is given for each child and can be claimed even if the parents are not working at all, on top of Child Benefits. I know of many cases where people are receiving over £10K a year in Tax Credits and also getting Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, free prescriptions, free school meals etc. They are taking from the State but they give nothing back.

Then there's the old favourite, Disabled Living Allowance. Did you know that you can claim this if your child is diagnosed with ADHD? In other words, have a badly behaved child and get paid for it. No I won't lump all such diagnosed children together, perhaps that would be unfair, but the majority are simply the outcome of disastrous parenting. You can also claim DLA if you are unfit for work. I heard of a woman who claimed she couldn't work because she had "short legs". Well, I have short legs (I'm only 5'1) and I'm still working, past retirement age. This same woman's legs, by the way, are not too short to stop her driving a car. A bad back is favourite as it's very difficult to disprove. Again, I've had a bad back for 20 years. Show me someone who hasn't once they get past the age of 50.

I would never deny Benefits to those in genuine need. When the Welfare State first began that was the whole point of them but, today, it is far too easy for the idle and work-shy to work the System and end up better off than some who work hard all their lives.

I wouldn't sterilise the Chavs. I would refuse them any Tax Credits and Housing Benefit unless they work at least 30 hours a week, stop any payments at all for any after the first two children and refuse DLA unless they are absolutely proved to be incapable of going to the local pub or bingo hall, with a heavy fine for those claimants who still manage a holiday in Tenerife despite their disability. What's more, I would re-instate corporal punishment, in other words I would give teachers back the right to discipline pupils and policemen the right to clout young thugs. Do away with the the ASBO and Community Service and bring back some form of National Service and the old, tough Approved School system for the wrong-doers.

I suppose I am advocating an England, an Accrington, as it was 50 years ago. To those who may disagree with my views I make no apology. It was a damned sight better place to live then than now.