Going places on welfare

It is a red letter day for welfare reform. James Purnell’s Green Paper, leaked today, is a clear, honest and robust approach to the scandal of Britain’s 5.1m on benefits. I say in my political column in this week’s magazine that it is so close to Chris Grayling’s report (mainly because David Freud essentially wrote both parties’ policies) that the Tories should accept it and wish Purnell well. This is precisely what Chris Grayling has done today, praising Purnell’s bravery and pledging to support him. This is a breakthrough.
 
Bipartisan agreement is the condition for welfare reform. As I say in the column, this was true in Wisconsin in the 1980s and on the Federal level in the US with the Gingrich-Clinton co-operation. Purnell will be happy the Tories agree – it means his Green Paper will be enacted, no matter what happens at the next election. And Purnell is the type of person who would think “good – this means it will be enacted” not (as Brown would) “damn, I can’t use this to screw the Tories.”