Show threadClaire McNabDec 22

@ChrisMayLA6 A day short of ten years ago, I was struck by this anon comment on Frances Coppola's blog by a young economist on their experience of working in the #DWP #BenefitSanctions team. The economist described the pressure to perform "Policy based evidence-making".

http://coppolacomment.com/2015/12/the-road-to-workhouse.html?showComment=1450866492880#c3473593519306867825

I have kept that brilliant phrase as my pinned post on Twitter ever since.

Iain MacLean (he/him)May 12, 2024

When the evidence doesn’t back the justification for a policy

https://venera.social/display/85a863ed-1866-412f-dfd5-4b0009537466

When the evidence doesn’t back the justification for a policy

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Rennie highlights a number of cases where the government puts ideology ahead to evidence. All in critical...

Show threadJules she/herAug 8, 2023

"Painting over murals for children at asylum centre cost #HomeOffice £1,550
FoI request reveals cost of work at #Manston centre in Kent, where cartoon murals meant to welcome children were painted over"

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/08/painting-over-murals-for-children-at-asylum-centre-cost-home-office-1550

And #BenefitSanctions and the two child cap make it less likely that people will find work, not more. They give money saving as the justification for these things, but it's actually a punitive policy of deliberate cruelty.

#Refugees #AsylumSeekers #HostileEnvironment

Painting over murals for children at asylum centre cost Home Office £1,550

FoI request reveals cost of work at Manston centre in Kent, where cartoon murals meant to welcome children were painted over

The Guardian
CheshireJun 13, 2023
Government Warned Benefit Sanctions Could Be "Costly" For Productivity
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/sanctions-answer-economic-inactivity
#BenefitSanctions
Government Warned Benefit Sanctions Could Be 'Costly' For Productivity

A leading benefits expert has warned the government’s policy of benefit sanctions will be “costly” for productivity – with warnings it will make “v...

Politics Home
Jules 🍺Apr 27, 2023
Please add your name on this petition, benefit sanctions do not work they just push people into terrible poverty. @organisehq: #NoMoreSanctions https://the.organise.network/campaigns/network-tell-the-uk-government-benefit-sanctions-don-t-work-704199d922fab4be?utm_campaign=KHvgH8lmh4&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=share
#petition #uk #benefitsanctions #CostOfLivingCrises
Tell the UK government: Benefit sanctions don’t work

Add your name #NoMoreSanctions

Jules she/herApr 6, 2023

So it turns out that sanctions are not just cruel and inhumane, they *actively slow people moving into work* which is the express justification for them. No wonder this shower wanted the report suppressed

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/apr/06/benefit-sanctions-slow-peoples-progress-into-work-says-report-therese-coffey-suppressed?

#BenefitSanctions #PerfectlyNormalIsland

Benefit sanctions slow people’s progress into work, says report Coffey suppressed

Government has aggressively pursued sanctions despite its own 2020 report showing they are ineffective at getting people into jobs

The Guardian