Government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich

The Mail on Sunday [I refuse to link to this rag] reports that David Cameron wants to strip housing benefit from under 25's. Apart from the utter unfairness of this, there are a few problems with this:

1) Most receipients of HB are in low paid work (so much for "feckless" under 25's, Mr Mail Headline editor).
2) What happens if someone is thrown out of their home by their parents, or has an abusive parent - are they supposed to live on the streets?
3) If someone is in work and loses their job, does Cameron expect them to move back with their parents? With their partner?
4) Talking of partners, if 2 people have a joint claim, one is 24 and the other 26, do they get HB?
5) Surely this is age discrimination under the Equality Act? Denying something from someone because of their age is discrimination.

This seems to be policy thought up by an out of touch rich boy, to keep his right wingers happy. And it is probably only a few days until the Lib Dems cave in and accept this (as well as Gove Levels).

The best way to reduce the HB bill would be to increase the minimum wage, or otherwise encourage employers to pay a living wage, as most people getting HB are in work. Demonising those who receive it as feckless and lazy is plain wrong.

The truth is the government subsidises low wages through the benefits/tax system. Workers would be better off if they got higher wages, and it would help reduce the deficit (by reducing benefits payments and tax credits, and increasing the tax take). But all this government seems to care about is to help their businessmen friends by sqeezing wages and reducing employment rights.

This really is the government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich.