Iain Duncan Smith

[DaveyWallis]

so even IF "comfortably" weren't the precise word that IDS used in the context I referred to, the fact remains - the implication was there

I disagree. His words were "If I had to, I would." Where is the implication of comfortably in that sentence?

does that include , electric, gas, council tax,motgage, rent, clothing,landline, internet,mobile,dentist, prescriptions etc etc

That includes electricity and gas - combined £80.00 per month, water - £17.37 per month, TV license - £12.12 per month, TV, landline and cable (includes all channels and recording box etc if I had to cut back I could probably halve this) - typically between £48.00 and £49.00 per month. This works out at £36.46 per week. Groceries bill is approx £10.00 per day, £70.00 per week. Total amount is £106.46.

I have a glass of wine or can of lager or cider on most nights so could cut this out if I had to.

I believe that dental charges, prescriptions etc, rent and council tax are paid as an addition so are not included. They aren't included on websites that show how other people manage on the £53.00 per week so I don't need to include that either.

The £10.00 per day on groceries includes food for our 2 year old as well but doesn't include nappies. Then again we get Child Benefit which more than covers that.

[imagine]

I disagree. His words were "If I had to, I would." Where is the implication of comfortably in that sentence?



That includes electricity and gas - combined £80.00 per month, water - £17.37 per month, TV license - £12.12 per month, TV, landline and cable (includes all channels and recording box etc if I had to cut back I could probably halve this) - typically between £48.00 and £49.00 per month. This works out at £36.46 per week. Groceries bill is approx £10.00 per day, £70.00 per week. Total amount is £106.46.

I have a glass of wine or can of lager or cider on most nights so could cut this out if I had to.

I believe that dental charges, prescriptions etc, rent and council tax are paid as an addition so are not included. They aren't included on websites that show how other people manage on the £53.00 per week so I don't need to include that either.

The £10.00 per day on groceries includes food for our 2 year old as well but doesn't include nappies. Then again we get Child Benefit which more than covers that.

anyone on benefit only get a small amount toward the interest of the mortgage loan,(insurance for loan usually only pay the mortgage for the first year then your on your own) to be paid out of that £53 a week,
much better off if in rented property as unlike the mortgage the rent is paid for you,
council tax for someone in band A will pay £20 per month so thats another aprox £5 per week from the £53,
before prescriptions were made free in scotland , it was still to be paid when on benefit, the cheapest way was to prepay for 3 mths or better still 12 months at about £40 a year i think it was,

i didnt see cleaning stuffs only groceries

i'm not doubting you, but perhaps on a short term it isnt a problem, but long term


i forgot buildings and contents insurance , not paid for by benefits

[Arthur Little]

I disagree.

... that's fine; everybody's entitled to his/her own opinion!

His words were "If I had to, I would." Where is the implication of comfortably in that sentence?

Yes, and ... he DID have to at one stage - he even had occasion to claim Unemployment Benefit - admittedly. But "get real," Andy! That was for [at most] a few short months back in 1981 ... an era when £53 a week was worth a helluva lot more than it is nowadays. Added to which, he would've undoubtedly received a [fairly] generous Army Pension following his 5 years' service as a commissioned officer in the Scots Guards.

Thereafter, he worked in the armaments trade ... first, I believe, with GEC~Marconi - and later with another firm dealing with the sale of guns - before being "fired" (read made redundant) himself. Despite being a by birth, it appears he barely "set the heather alight" in either position.

However, his fortunes changed again when, within a year, he'd married the daughter of a wealthy baronet - as a result of which he, his wife and their 4 kids eventually finished up living rent-free in a substantial cottage on his rich father-in-law's estate.

Yet one MORE example of a privileged character - whose contact with harsh reality has long~since faded - living in 'Cloud~ Land'!