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cali

(114,904 posts)
Thu Apr 4, 2013, 02:09 PM Apr 2013

In Great Britain, the Philpott case brings right wing criticsm of "the welfare state"

In an attempt to frame a woman who had scorned him, Mick Philpott torched his house, killing 6 of his 17 children. Philpott had terrible and violent history of violence- particularly of violence toward women.

The chancellor, George Osborne, has taken the calculated risk of wading into the debate over the child killer Mick Philpott by asking whether the welfare state may have contributed to his lifestyle by being too generous.

When asked on a visit to Derby whether the Philpotts were a product of Britain's benefit system, Osborne said: "It's right we ask questions as a government, a society and as taxpayers, why we are subsidising lifestyles like these. It does need to be handled."

He said Philpott "was responsible for horrendous crimes, crimes which have shocked the nation".

Philpott, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 15 years at Nottingham crown court on Thursday for killing six of his children, lived in a council house, claimed thousands of pounds in benefits and refused to get a job.

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The Conservative councillor Mick Barker, who represents the Oakwood ward at Derby city council, said: "You might think the Philpotts were dysfunctional, but believe me, they were not exceptional and not unique.

Labour MP Andy McDonald accused Osborne of trying to make to make political capital out of the Philpott case.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/apr/04/mick-philpott-benefits-lifestyle-questioned

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