British chancellor George Osborne has linked the case of child killer Mick Philpott to the need for reform of the benefits system, questioning why taxpayers were funding "lifestyles like that".
Mr Osborne, who has been leading the government’s defence of its sweeping welfare changes, stressed that Philpott was responsible for his “absolutely horrendous” crimes.
But he said there was a “question for government and for society” about the benefits that allowed Philpott to live the way he did.
Philpott, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years today for killing six of his children, lived in a council house in Derby, claimed thousands of pounds in benefit and refused to get a job.
When asked on a visit to Derby if the Philpotts were a product of Britain’s benefit system, Mr Osborne said: “Philpott is responsible for these absolutely horrendous crimes, these are crimes that have shocked the nation. The courts are responsible for sentencing.
“But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state, and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state, subsidising lifestyles like that. And I think that debate needs to be had.”
Labour MP Andy McDonald accused Mr Osborne of trying to make to make political capital out of the Philpott case. The Middlesbrough MP said the case was entirely separate from the wider debate about welfare.
“It just demonstrates how out of touch George Osborne is. He may as well make adverse comments about the entire population of a town or a religion, it’s absolute nonsense.
“It just shows the depths to which they are prepared to stoop in demonising people who find themselves in difficult circumstances.”
The debate over the welfare system is a “completely separate discussion, it should not be had in the context of the most appalling crime of a father killing his six children”, he said.
Labour’s Dame Anne Begg, who chairs the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, told BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “It was an evil act and I don’t think we should be making policy on the back of a very exceptional case.”
Critics have attacked the government’s wholesale changes to the welfare system which enter into force this month. Earlier this week the chancellor hit back at opponents of the changes, accusing them of talking “ill-informed rubbish”.
In the face of growing pressure from churches, charities and opposition parties, Mr Osborne said suggestions the changes marked the end of the welfare state were “shrill, headline-seeking nonsense”.
With the Government keen to reduce the welfare bill a raft of changes are being introduced this month, including an average £14-a-week cut in housing benefit for council tenants deemed to have a spare room — dubbed the “bedroom tax” by opponents.
Wider welfare and tax changes will also see council tax benefit funding cut, and working-age benefits and tax credit rises pegged at 1 per cent well below inflation — for three years.
PA