Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53/week fastest petition ever?

[RenewableCandy]

He had to bail out of "Tower Block of Commons" (couple of years back) so that shows how far he'll get.

[acman]

Now just been on the radio news, which is a sky news feed, so assuming it on sky tv news as well,

[UndercoverElephant]

So I'm not really into serious petitions, don't think they achieve much. But I do like this one that calls for Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53/week:

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/ ... -53-a-week

Launched at 12:41 on 01/04/13 the "#IDS Prove It" petition has just exceeded 44,000 signatures.

There is also a serious welfare reform one if that's your bag: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/43154

Probably somehow related to peak oil in some tenuous way?

Wow. I picked up Monbiot's tweet this morning that started this off, as it happened. Fast indeed.

[RenewableCandy]

100k by bed-time

[biffvernon]

121,344 at breakfast.

[emordnilap]

He won't give a toss. Electronic petitions are a waste of effort but I suppose it makes people feel good.

Yes, often and yes.

The anti-EDF petition definitely helped.

[biffvernon]

The 2.5 million petition about neonicotinoids was helped a vote in the Dutch Parliament that led to the EU Commission bringing a ban proposal before the EU Parliament. OK, so thanks to the UK and, home of Bayer, Germany, a qualified majority was not achieved, but the massive petition has fortified the Commission so the matter will be returned.

It might be argued that this new-fangled electronic petition signing thing is a significant aspect of participatory democracy, allowing to sound public opinion more effectively than a single party vote in a five-yearly election.

[Little John]

Why did that petition say that 150,000 were needed but that now the 150,000 has been exceeded, it is now saying that nearly another 50,000 are needed?

[emordnilap]

Why did that petition say that 150,000 were needed but that now the 150,000 has been exceeded, it is now saying that nearly another 50,000 are needed?

That seems to be the way with these on-line petitions. For example, I saw a petition start off with '100 needed' and, when this was reached, a message stated, "Let's see if we can make it to 500" and "400 needed".

[clv101]

Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53/week:

What is the £53/week meant to cover? What other benefits are simultaneously available? Council tax?

During the last financial year I spent (exactly, yes I do keep a spreadsheet) £21 a week on council tax, gas, electricity, water, internet and mobile phone. This leaves plenty for food... but not accommodation.

[sam_uk]

£7 day food & all bills electricity/gas/water/council tax/phone/tv/internet/travel/clothes/shoes/post/stationery/cleaning stuff

Has IDS started already: http://t.co/gWtiM1ZGcr

[PS_RalphW]

During the last financial year I spent (exactly, yes I do keep a spreadsheet) £21 a week on council tax, gas, electricity, water, internet and mobile phone. This leaves plenty for food... but not accommodation.

I guess my figure would be nearer £25 /week, but I haven't checked my records and we are a family of 4 which increases electricity costs, and gas (a bit).

That leaves me £4 a day for food , etc.. I spend on average £5 on lunch alone...

so - one meal a day and nothing for anthing else at all.

I would need to dump the car, TV licence, all subscriptions, etc. etc.
No repairs or work on the house. No new clothes.

[sam_uk]

Don't forget you are 'actively seeking work' whilst all this is going on.

So you need to be phoning lot's of people, sending lot's of CV's and travelling to interviews up to 10? 20? 30? miles away.

[Little John]

Iain Duncan Smith to live on £53/week:

What is the £53/week meant to cover? What other benefits are simultaneously available? Council tax?

During the last financial year I spent (exactly, yes I do keep a spreadsheet) £21 a week on council tax, gas, electricity, water, internet and mobile phone. This leaves plenty for food... but not accommodation.

Council tax is partially paid for (used to be all paid). Rent is now only partially paid. Free dental care and eye care (if you can find anyone whop provides the NHS service, which very few do now).

everything has to be paid for out of the 53

[frank_begbie]

You can survive on £53 a week, just.

But if you're unlucky enough to be wearing the wrong colour socks when you go to sign on and get your benefit sanctioned, God help you.

£85 per fortnight hardship payments. For anything up to three years.