A challenge to anti scrounger rhetoric – and to anti union propaganda

As the tide of anti claimant misinformation reaches a crescendo led by Channel 4 at the moment, any challenge to the “feckless shirkers” argument needs to be carefully considered. Larry Elliott in the Guardian does more than challenge the rhetoric. Not only does he provide a manifesto that any socialist would be able to sign up to - full employment, a house building programme, and an industrial strategy - but he presents an argument that tackling poverty requires the unshackling of trade union power and the reinstatement of free collective bargaining. If there is to be an end to poverty pay, zero hours contracts, and a return to permanent employment patterns it can only be achieved by restoring the balance of power in the workplace. That would really make work pay but requires more than demonising the poor. We hope Mr Miliband is reading http://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2014/jan/12/george-osborne-welfare-cuts-distortions-benefits-street