Three things Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits claimants would be banned from spending money on under a controversial "ration card" plan have been revealed.
Under new plans announced by the Conservative Party, people on benefits with criminal convictions would be issued with cards to prevent them from buying alcohol or cigarettes. The card would also block cash withdrawals and gambling transactions.
Conservative MP Defends Policy
The Tories' Chris Philp defended the policy on Sunday, May 31. Mr Philp told GB News: "That payment card would not be able to be used to withdraw cash from an ATM, transfer money to other people, or be used for buying alcohol or for gambling, for example."
The scheme is modelled on the "Aspen" cards given to asylum seekers, which cannot be used in betting shops or cash machines. The new benefit ration cards would apply to welfare claimants who have received a community or suspended sentence where alcohol, gambling, or drugs were a factor in the offence.
The card would be pre-loaded with benefit funds which could not be used for gambling, alcohol or cash withdrawals. "Hard-working families are taxed to the hilt to fund a welfare system that criminals are gaming," Mr Philp said. "Labour scrapped all plans to cut welfare, and left 4.4 billion pounds in criminal fines sitting uncollected."
He added: "Starmer spent years making excuses for criminals as Director of Public Prosecutions. Old habits die hard; just now he's doing it from Downing Street. Conservatives say enough and have a clear plan to put an end to this farce by putting an end to criminals spending taxpayer money on gambling and alcohol."
Labour Responds
On Sunday night, a Labour Party spokesman said: "The Tories left the prison system in a state of total collapse – and even called an early election in order to run away from dealing with it. We have had to sort out the prison crisis, and their legacy on the welfare system too."
The Labour spokesman added: "We have started by rebalancing the standard and sickness rates of Universal Credit, and launching the Youth Guarantee to help more young people into work or training."
The proposed ration card plan has sparked debate over the treatment of benefits claimants and the effectiveness of such measures in reducing crime and promoting responsible spending.
