More benefit fraud

A north London psychiatrist who took thousands of pounds in income support while earning £50,000 a year and owning two homes has been struck off. Sudanese trained Dr Yak had two jobs simultaneously, as well as claiming income support, housing and council tax benefit, and incapacity benefit.

And a trade union convener who represents employees of Wigan council and was chairman of Wigan Constituency Labour Party has admitted a £28,500 benefits fraud. She has pleaded guilty to failing to notify a change of circumstances between December 2001 and November 2005 by not revealing she was working. She continued to accept incapacity benefit.

These are not inadequates confused by the system. In both cases there was knowing fraud. Doubtless the tip of a very big iceberg.

Dr Rant has a post explaining how - with every kindness - the unemployed come to find themselves on incapacity benefit, wittily titled "The Myth of Full Employment: My part in its creation". As he remarks:

It’s a win-win deal for everyone (EXCEPT THE TAXPAYERS) and all achieved via one stroke of the medical pen.

A win-win deal for everyone actually present at the transaction. The poor (increasingly poor) taxpayer is unregarded. Who's fighting his corner on these occasions?