David Cameron, A4e and subcontracted policy

It has taken some time, but the media has now worked out that the government’s back-to-work reforms are a story which just keeps on giving. Under the Work Programme, vast amounts of taxpayers’ money will find its way into the pockets of the people running the new system. When these contracts were given out last year, it all seemed a little too technical to make into a headline story. But a castle and an £8 million bonus changed all that. Now, the story of Emma Harrison and A4e is in danger of taking on the status of fable for the Cameron government. This weekend the Observer and the Independent on Sunday both had a pop and shadow Work and Pensions secretary Liam Byrne has begun to ask some probing questions.

I should declare an interest here. My charity, New Deal of the Mind, has a contract with the welfare-to-work giant.