Memo to Rachel Reeves: oppose under-25s benefit cuts

Taking over the shadow work and pensions brief is one of the hardest jobs in terms of complex policy development. It is also crucial in its most importance to the Ed Miliband project. It is intimately linked to the cost of living crisis that underpins the Miliband electoral offer, and it is one of the areas where the leader has been most ambitious in his vision (as I argued in a response to the Newham speech made back in June 2013). But all of the difficulty involved there is one early decision in the job for Rachel Reeves which should be very easy.

The government – Conservatives and their Liberal Democrat colleagues – have announced plans to strip under-25s of Housing Benefit and Job Seekers Allowance. The mainstream media, as they always do, claim that this is not only good policy but a popular one too.

Like so much of our media coverage on social security these days – the reading of the latest coalition attack on people in need of support in the UK as a popular idea is misguided. The truth is more complex, interesting and positive for Labour.

Rachel should have no qualms in positioning Labour in opposition to this policy. If you lose your job or you cannot afford your rent you should be entitled to support whether you are 19, 39 or 69 years of age. Fabian research from last year shows that a majority of the public instinctively get this. 60% of respondents in our survey agreed with the statement ‘Those aged under 25 are adults who should have the same rights and responsibilities as other adults, including accessing benefits if they hit hard times’

Table 1 all results exclude those respondents answering don’t know. Total respondents once excluding ‘don’t knows’ is 1652. Fieldwork was conducted in November 2012

Opposing government plans to strip under-25s of their benefits is not only the right policy but will be electorally important for Labour.

Fabian Society research also shows that while this policy is popular with Conservative voters the opposite is true with Labour voters. Crucially the Lib Dem voters that will put Ed Miliband in Downing Street also oppose this policy.

The recent Fabian Society report ‘Labour’s Next Majority’ argues that Labour will need 6.5% of 2010 Lib Dem voters to put Ed Miliband in Downing Street. Opposing the plans to take benefits away from those under 25 is a great opportunity to appeal directly to these voters.

While 52% of those who voted Conservative in 2010 support removing housing benefit from those under 25 years of age only 21% of Labour 2010 and 30% of Lib Dem 2010 voters agree. Housing Benefit more generally is an area that despite being toxic in the media narrative can be reframed to a more positive position for Labour. Fabian work done with Crisis earlier this year showed that there is overwhelming public support for a programme to tackle the root causes of housing benefit spending.

If people feel the economy punishes people whose wages can’t keep up with their rent – they will support a party pledging to address that. Throw in a housing market seen as dysfunctional and you can gain public permission for radical action on housebuilding. Anger about the way in which the system works against people despite their best efforts can be a powerful driver of support for Labour party policy.

Table 2 all results exclude those respondents answering don’t know. Total respondents once excluding ‘don’t knows’ is 1652. Fieldwork was conducted in November 2012

Ed Miliband has shown he understands this and begun to draw clear dividing lines between Labour and the Conservative options at the next election. On social security Labour is the party that will tackle root causes of poverty that triggers social security spending while the Conservatives will protect the winners and punish those who cannot get ahead in our economy.

Rachel Reeves must develop policy that reinforces the view that not only does Labour tackle the root causes of poverty which pushes up social security spending but that those who need support are often where they are because of forces beyond their control. This is a politics of social security that Labour can win on by building a system that people feel works for everyone.

Natan Doron is Senior Researcher at the Fabian Society. The research in this article is drawn from fieldwork that supported the report ‘Home Truths’ co-authored by Robert Tinker. The polling was conducted on behalf of the Fabian Society by YouGov.