Iain Duncan Smith's new challenge - £53 a week

[User]

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Cut back to just £53 a week on beer - mental, it can't be done!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Actually didn't Portillo do this years ago, as a single mum or summat?

 

[marinyork]

Actually didn't Portillo do this years ago, as a single mum or summat?

Yes. The original one I think was Matthew Parris doing it in 1984. He failed. He did it again in some form 20 years later. He met up with two of the people from the original and found one was a single mother with three children and the one he'd got on best with his son grew up became unemployed and killed himself. Of course many cyclists know him better for his comments about cyclists these days, but back then he was an MP and then went on to being a journalist.

Later there was a slightly different documentary called Tower Block of Commons where Tim Loughton, Austin Mitchell, Nadine Dorries and IDS lived with council tenants.

 

[MontyVeda]

I reckon one could just about live of £53 a week... providing they don't drink alcohol, don't smoke and do go vegetarian.... but as soon as a bill drops through the letterbox, they're buggered.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

..,but as soon as a bill drops through the letterbox, they're buggered.

Well he is a Tory MP so he's probably used to that.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I can't live off that and, living in a 2-bedroom flat, I can't exchange my flat where I've lived for 25 years for a smaller one because the council has been forced to let them get bought at discounted rates. And, I tell you what, I don't think I can face living in such a world.

I foresee a growing number of people trying to get themselves imprisoned. For a meal and a bed.

 

[djb1971]

I foresee a growing number of people trying to get themselves imprisoned. For a meal and a bed.

A fair number could even try working for money.

 

[Arch]

What does that amount have to cover? Does it include rent, or is that taken care of through Housing Benefit. Council Tax?

Forgive the question, I'm fortunate enough never to have needed to know, so I'm rather ignorant on the matter.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

What does that amount have to cover? Does it include rent, or is that taken care of through Housing Benefit. Council Tax?

Forgive the question, I'm fortunate enough never to have needed to know, so I'm rather ignorant on the matter.

Housing benefit (in the social sector) covers the rent barring water rates, around £3.50 per week. Council tax benefit was buried yesterday.

 

[ColinJ]

What does that amount have to cover? Does it include rent, or is that taken care of through Housing Benefit. Council Tax?

Forgive the question, I'm fortunate enough never to have needed to know, so I'm rather ignorant on the matter.

I assumed that it was supposed to be all bills other than rent or mortgage. I doubt that you could buy or rent even a small property for much less than £53 a week anywhere in the UK these days!

I could definitely live on £53 a week for food, drink, travel, household items and essential clothing. Once you start adding in council tax, home insurance, gas, water, electricity, phone line rental etc. though, you'd really be struggling. My council tax is in the bottom band and even that is about £16 a week.

 

[Arch]

Housing benefit (in the social sector) covers the rent barring water rates, around £3.50 per week. Council tax benefit was buried yesterday.

So it has to cover food etc, utilities, TV licence and council tax?

That's tough. Food would be no problem for me, I can cook and eat frugally. But the rest would add up swiftly.

 

[ColinJ]

I've just read where the £53/week comes from ... I have to say that if the market trader really worked 50-70 hours a week and only made £2,700 last year then he isn't in the right business - that's less than £1/hour!

 

[Falwheeler]

I'm sure he could manage for one week, it's doing it for 52 weeks a year that's the problem

 

[ColinJ]

I'm sure he could manage for one week, it's doing it for 52 weeks a year that's the problem

Indeed - £53 is way more than I spend a week on food and drink so I would be happy as long as I had more than £53 in the weeks that I paid the utility bills, council tax, insurance etc.!