DPAC is protesting on Monday 20th October at 12.30 against Lord Freud’s suggestion that some disabled people are not worth the full wage but could be paid £2 per hour.
Lord Freud’s defenders have been quick to say that what Lord Freud meant is that the state would top the £2 up.
Following is what Lord Freud answered to a question of David Scott and what followed.
Can you spot when Lord Freud ever mentioned topping up the £2?
We can’t.
“...You make a really good point about the disabled. Now I had not thought through, and we have not got a system for, you know, kind of going below the Minimum Wage.
“But we do have… You know, Universal Credit is really useful for people with the fluctuating conditions who can do some work – go up and down – because they can earn and get…and get, you know, bolstered through Universal Credit, and they can move that amount up and down.
“Now, there is a small…there is a group, and I know exactly who you mean, where actually as you say they’re not worth the full wage and actually I’m going to go and think about that particular issue, whether there is something we can do nationally, and without distorting the whole thing, which actually if someone wants to work for £2 an hour, and it’s working can we actually…”
Scott: “They particularly want to work because it does add so much to their lives…”
Freud: “Yes.”
Scott: “…being able to do something. And actually being employed in a job actually gives them so much self-esteem, but nobody is willing to pay that Minimum Wage. And then we’re supporting them massively financially, but we also want them to work, for their own self-esteem and everything else.”
Join in the protest at Caxton House, Tothill St London, tomorrow Monday 20th October at 12.30 or if you can’t get there you can take part in the protest on Twitter
defenders said he was compassionate and wanted the state to top up the £2. Where does he say that?
