Credit where credit is due

HM Government's shambolic efforts to reform the welfare system with the creation of 'Universal Credit' (UC) have been savaged today by the National Audit Office. As ever, some hapless junior minister is put up to defend the indefensible. Rather than admit that their baby has so far proven as disposable as the bathwater, we heard, for example, that UC claimants had 'double the chance of finding work' than those not on UC. What we're not told is whether that is double as in 1% to 2% or half of one percent to one percent. Later I heard some policy wonk from Iain Duncan Smith's policy think tank, the Centre for Social Studies saying that the fact that UC is costing a hell of a lot more to administer was never a central part of its inception. Of course not - that's 'millions of miles away' from the real intent, which has left thousands relying on food banks. My question is this: how was it that the United Kingdom ever fell under the spell of such a useless plank as IDS? How is it that this behemoth of stupidity is given regular airspace to ventilate his asinine Brexit bleatings when his record in office is humiliatingly dismal? Or is that part of a BBC plot to keep us in the EU?