Video: Glenda Jackson MP demolishes Iain Duncan Smith

IDS has "plunged thousands and thousands of our fellow citizens into the most abject penury", said the Labour MP.

IDS has “plunged thousands and thousands of our fellow citizens into the most abject penury”, said the Labour MP

Yesterday’s House of Commons debate on the performance of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under Iain Duncan Smith was ignited by an intervention by Glenda Jackson. The Labour MP for Hampstead claimed that IDS had “plunged thousands and thousands of our fellow citizens into the most abject penury”.

“We are seeing people on ESA (employment support allowance) who are waiting months before their appeals will be heard, and during that period they are either told to apply to Jobseekers Allowance which they cannot do because they have been told they are unfit for work, and they are absolutely without any kind of financial support at all.”

You can view the video in full above.

23 Responses to “Video: Glenda Jackson MP demolishes Iain Duncan Smith”

  1. Fred

    What a load of old tosh – typical socialist “everybody who has nothing deserves everything” speech with no thought at all of who is going to pay for it – after all – it was “new labour” whose policies led the welfare budget to spiral out of control in the first place. Where are the true Socialists? Let them tell us all how it should be done! At least IDS has been brave enough to grasp the nettle. With the New Labour approach the country would be either totally bankrupt by now or taxes would be so high, even the poorest would be paying! Hypocrisy of the highest order – how does this woman get elected?

  2. Sam Coppock

    Then how do you propose we deal with the fact that without “socialism” some people have so little that they cannot get food, they don’t have shelter, they are denied healthcare and education, they cant even travel outside of walking distance?

    These problems are very real and must not be ignored in a developed and civilized society

  3. Tess Cavacuiti

    Well spoken, Glenda Jackson. Such a pity to see the ignorance and apathy of her fellow members. If students in school, or people in the workplace were to sit using their iphones during hours; they would be reprimanded. The elected persons, should at least show interest and support for Ms Jackson’s speech. They too have MANY constituents who have been deeply affected by IDS and his decisions. Shame on them. They set no example or solidarity towards others, what so ever, by sitting and texting.

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