In the short time available, I want to nail a couple of myths that have come up in the debate and give the view from Cannock Chase.
The first myth is that we are giving a tax break to the wealthiest in society. The answer that the shadow Secretary of State would not give earlier is that over a 13-year period, the Labour Government had a 50p tax rate for 37 days. The idea that we are giving the rich a tax cut is just a sixth-form debating point; the Labour party had 13 years to introduce the 50p rate, and they introduced it for 37 days.
Let us nail another myth. Although many people in work get benefits, there is evidence of a culture of worklessness, whatever the Joseph Rowntree Foundation says. If hon. Members do not believe me—[Interruption.] Give me a second. Let me read the House a summary of an interview on LBC radio in December. A man called Paul phoned in to say that it was not his fault that there were no jobs out there. He said:
“Why would you work for low wages, can’t really understand that, what’s the point? I was offered a job two weeks ago; they wanted me in there at 8 am in the morning.”
The presenter said:
“And you didn’t want to do that job?”
Paul replied:
“It’s ridiculous, that time!”
The presenter asked:
“What time would you finish if you started at 8?”
Paul answered:
“Well it finished about 4, but that time in the morning is too early. Most people start at 9 don’t they?”
The presenter, getting angry now, said:
“No, people start work at all hours. If I was in charge and you turned down a job for that reason I would cut your benefits. You lied you said no work out there. There are people out there struggling every single day who would love to get that job, frankly you can’t be fagged can you?”
Paul said that he would love to have the job but he was not willing to start at 8, only at 9.30, to which the presenter replied:
“I am outraged by what you just said.”
Let us not pretend that there are not some people who cannot be bothered to work.