Benefit Cheats

There must be significant and measurable changes made to the current benefits system, and not just the tick-box management we have under the Labour Party.

The elderly, parents with young children, and the genuinely sick, unemployed, and disabled, tend to have to struggle to get what they are entitled to from the government, when billions of pounds are being fraudulently acquired by benefit cheats.

I know that I would have no direct influence at a councillor level, because this is a national matter, but things must change and popular local support would put pressure on politicians.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE:
British citizens found cheating on benefits should receive a prison sentence for fraudthis should be a guaranteed minimum sentence, whereby the fraudster knows there will be a sentence, not if there will be one. The question is how long will the sentence be? non-British citizens, including EEA nationals, who are found to be cheating by the courts, would not get a prison sentence, but rather be deported. Why should the tax payer pay £20,000 a year for them to remain in prison?

I do not believe in the 3 strikes and you are out 'for a short while', I believe we must tell people what we will do and then do it. No messing around.

With the money saved we could invest in our pensioners and our children. We could invest in schools and free nursery places for parents, although this should be means tested.

Quite simply, the rule should be that if you break the law and commit fraud, we will find you, we will take you to court and you will suffer the consequences of your own actions.

Non-British Citizens who are deported should not be allowed to return to the UK for a minimum of 10 years. This is in line with the governments immigration rules that state if you make a visa application and provide fraudulent documents, you will be banned from entering the UK for 10 years.

We must remain a nation of fairness and humanity, but people willing to abuse our system regardless, of their nationality, should expect to pay for their actions.