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Tories to ban criminals from blowing advantages on booze and cigarettes

The Conservatives have introduced plans to ban criminals on licence from spending advantages on alcohol and cigarettes in a brand new welfare crackdown.

Philp proclaims felony advantages ban (Picture: Getty)

Criminials shall be stopped from spending advantages on alcohol and cigarettes beneath new plans introduced by the Conservatives.

The scheme is the newest coverage Kemi Badenoch’s occasion has put ahead alongside different plans they are saying will reduce the welfare funds.

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Chris Philp, the shadow dwelling secretary, additionally mentioned limiting what law-abiding advantages claimants can spend their cash on is “value contemplating” as effectively.

However criminals, both out on licence or serving neighborhood sentences, can be barred from spending their advantages cash on playing and gadgets together with alcohol and cigarettes, beneath the plans.

Mr Philp advised the BBC: “It will be for the interval of the suspended sentence or licence interval plus a yr thereafter, at a minimal, however we’re going to evaluation whether or not this form of precept might be utilized extra extensively.”

When requested if which means different advantages claimants may have their spending managed, he mentioned: “That could be a query that I feel is value contemplating, nevertheless it’s not for right this moment’s announcement.”

Offenders on advantages can be handed a cost card, as an alternative of money, that doesn’t permit them to switch cash to different folks, withdraw money, or spend cash on the banned gadgets, he added.

The announcement knowledge reveals that extra folks than ever earlier than are receiving advantages, with 9.2m working-age folks on advantages in England and Wales.

Ex-offenders will obtain cost playing cards (Picture: Getty)

Conservative evaluation means that an estimated 500,000 of these on Common Credit score are ex-offenders, which is​ 6 per cent of claimants.

Mr Philp, talking on the time of the announcement mentioned that “hardworking households are taxed to the hilt to fund a welfare system that criminals are gaming. Labour scrapped all plans to chop welfare, and left £4.4 billion in felony fines sitting uncollected.

“Starmer spent years making excuses for criminals as Director of Public Prosecutions. Outdated habits die laborious, simply now he’s doing it from Downing Avenue.

“Conservatives say sufficient and have a transparent plan to place an finish to this farce by placing an finish to criminals spending taxpayer cash on playing and alcohol.”

Labour was approached for remark.

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