The controversial ‘ration card’ scheme proposed by the Conservative Party would see DWP benefits claimants who have received a community or suspended sentence issued with cards restricting them from spending on alcohol, gambling and cash withdrawals
Three items that Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits claimants would be PROHIBITED from purchasing under a contentious “ration card” scheme have been disclosed. Under fresh proposals unveiled by the Conservative Party, individuals on benefits with criminal records would receive cards designed to stop them buying alcohol or cigarettes.
The Tories’ Chris Philp championed 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 system is based on the “Aspen” cards issued to asylum seekers, which are barred from use in betting establishments or cash machines.
The proposed benefit ration cards would target welfare recipients who have been handed a community or suspended sentence where alcohol, gambling, or drugs played a role in the crime, reports Birmingham Live.
The card would come pre-loaded with benefit payments which couldn’t be spent on 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 £4.4bn in criminal fines sitting uncollected.
“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.”
On Sunday evening, a Labour Party spokesperson 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.
“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.”
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