Labour ex MP on the dole
Discussion
ker.He is bright, has qualifications, probably well connected and could easily make his way through the job market. But he chooses to let someone else do it for him at a national concern that is subject to change by the new government, and hops off to the press afterwards.
Makes no sense at all for someone wanting a good job. I wonder what he could possibly be up to...
Makes no sense at all for someone wanting a good job. I wonder what he could possibly be up to...
Claims he is doing it for an 'experiment'.
ex-MP said:
“I signed on at the Jobcentre, partly to keep my NI contributions continuous, but also partly to explore for myself what it's like,” he wrote.
“People (including MPs) have wildly different ideas – some think it's a grim place where applicants are pushed around and ordered to go for unsuitable jobs; some think it's a cushy environment where you just routinely sign on and no real effort is made to get you back to work.
“I think politicians should experience as much as possible directly, so I went through the normal registration process and in due course was invited to interview.
“Would I be nodded through without questions, or browbeaten into applying for jobs on a building site that I wouldn't be able to do?”
“People (including MPs) have wildly different ideas – some think it's a grim place where applicants are pushed around and ordered to go for unsuitable jobs; some think it's a cushy environment where you just routinely sign on and no real effort is made to get you back to work.
“I think politicians should experience as much as possible directly, so I went through the normal registration process and in due course was invited to interview.
“Would I be nodded through without questions, or browbeaten into applying for jobs on a building site that I wouldn't be able to do?”
5unny said:
Claims he is doing it for an 'experiment'.
Oh how funny, there are people who would love to get a job these days. ex-MP said:
“I signed on at the Jobcentre, partly to keep my NI contributions continuous, but also partly to explore for myself what it's like,” he wrote.
“People (including MPs) have wildly different ideas – some think it's a grim place where applicants are pushed around and ordered to go for unsuitable jobs; some think it's a cushy environment where you just routinely sign on and no real effort is made to get you back to work.
“I think politicians should experience as much as possible directly, so I went through the normal registration process and in due course was invited to interview.
“Would I be nodded through without questions, or browbeaten into applying for jobs on a building site that I wouldn't be able to do?”
“People (including MPs) have wildly different ideas – some think it's a grim place where applicants are pushed around and ordered to go for unsuitable jobs; some think it's a cushy environment where you just routinely sign on and no real effort is made to get you back to work.
“I think politicians should experience as much as possible directly, so I went through the normal registration process and in due course was invited to interview.
“Would I be nodded through without questions, or browbeaten into applying for jobs on a building site that I wouldn't be able to do?”
"browbeaten", what a pr1ck!
Soovy said:
I didn't know Caravan Man was an MP...See, see, the Tory policy of running for election in his seat has directly resulted in unemployment. All Thatcher's fault, innit. 
I think the 'experiment' bit is just some good old-fashioned Labour spin myself. Signing on, even if you will only be out of work for a short time, makes a lot of sense and you have to do it in order to get other forms of help (PPI claims on debts, etc.). And as he says, it keeps your NI contrbutions consistent.
I think he will be surprised at what he finds. After 6 months of signing on, I am back at work on Monday (
) and my experience of the Job Centre is that they are overwhelmed. They have too many people to see in a day to give proper help to all of them, and not all of those want help. Sign on for a month and you will quickly become good at spotting who is looking for a job and who is looking for a handout. The staff can spot this too, and you will see which ones get 'processed' and broomed out the door, and which ones they look at fully and make suggestions to. Sad I know, but like I say there are just too many of them to deal with everyone the same, they help the ones who want it.
So while I have a little at a Labour MP in the dole queue, I say fair play to him.
I think the 'experiment' bit is just some good old-fashioned Labour spin myself. Signing on, even if you will only be out of work for a short time, makes a lot of sense and you have to do it in order to get other forms of help (PPI claims on debts, etc.). And as he says, it keeps your NI contrbutions consistent.
I think he will be surprised at what he finds. After 6 months of signing on, I am back at work on Monday (
) and my experience of the Job Centre is that they are overwhelmed. They have too many people to see in a day to give proper help to all of them, and not all of those want help. Sign on for a month and you will quickly become good at spotting who is looking for a job and who is looking for a handout. The staff can spot this too, and you will see which ones get 'processed' and broomed out the door, and which ones they look at fully and make suggestions to. Sad I know, but like I say there are just too many of them to deal with everyone the same, they help the ones who want it.So while I have a little
at a Labour MP in the dole queue, I say fair play to him.Fittster said:
Don't MPs get a large amount of cash when they leave the house of commons? If so why can he claim the dole?
Article you didnt bother reading said:
He said that wanted to keep his National Insurance contributions continuous as well as seeing for himself how the system works
If you dont keep up your contributions it could affect your right to claim your pension....5unny said:
Claims he is doing it for an 'experiment'.
Erm, you mean ex-politician....ex-MP said:
“I signed on at the Jobcentre, partly to keep my NI contributions continuous, but also partly to explore for myself what it's like,” he wrote.
“People (including MPs) have wildly different ideas – some think it's a grim place where applicants are pushed around and ordered to go for unsuitable jobs; some think it's a cushy environment where you just routinely sign on and no real effort is made to get you back to work.
“I think politicians should experience as much as possible directly, so I went through the normal registration process and in due course was invited to interview.
“Would I be nodded through without questions, or browbeaten into applying for jobs on a building site that I wouldn't be able to do?”
“People (including MPs) have wildly different ideas – some think it's a grim place where applicants are pushed around and ordered to go for unsuitable jobs; some think it's a cushy environment where you just routinely sign on and no real effort is made to get you back to work.
“I think politicians should experience as much as possible directly, so I went through the normal registration process and in due course was invited to interview.
“Would I be nodded through without questions, or browbeaten into applying for jobs on a building site that I wouldn't be able to do?”
fido said:
dougc said:
Savings of £15k isn't it?
Lost soul said:
Dont they get a 60 k pay off if they lose their seat
This sounds like JSA which is £60 a week and isn't means tested. I did my bit of 'experimental' research a few years back.Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff