Cameron’s clearances

James Cummings could never refuse a drink. Even after his boss — a Watford publican — threatened him with the sack he couldn’t lay off the bottle. He’d worked his way through the profits of a family business, two houses and a marriage by then. He eventually awoke in a tunnel under the Elephant and Castle three weeks after he was sacked from the pub. That was the winter before last.

Now, having recovered sufficiently to rent a flat, fight his addiction and get some qualifications, James is doing everything we expect of those on unemployment benefit. He is teetotal and has avoided debt; he does voluntary work with other addicts and is applying for jobs.

The trouble is, as a result of George Osborne’s radical overhaul of housing benefit, his already stretched household finances may be about to snap. Next year, his housing benefit will be cut by £7 a week and at that point his income from welfare payments — which just allow him to live on £50 a week — will no longer cover the cost of bills, food, and the bus to and from job interviews.