consider single rate JSA is 70 p.w. and next years increase will be in the region of 2%, he really should be highlighting their plight, rather than just witter on with his colleagues about increasing employment, which is not there. Bill, Perhaps you make some sort of sense to yourself, but I was pointing out Byrne has nothing to say about the position of the unemployed. Is it just that you feel you must make some daft comment about everything I write, or that you are completely blind to the shortcomings of some Labour shadow ministers -- a man who -- let's be honest about it -- would rather have been the Mayor of Birmingham than continue in the shadow cabinet. Could I ask you to at least consider the point before your childish responses("........yadder, yadder yadder") Serbitar The thing is none of us has a clue what Byrne really thinks about anything or where the Labour Party is as far as welfare goes. Many of us have been led to believe, because of the ambiguous and contradictory things that Byrne has said and written, that his approach to welfare could impoverish the poor and make their lives even more pinched and unbearable than they will be from April 2013 onwards once the Tory cuts begin biting like a rabid dog. Where is Labour on welfare? Everybody seems worryingly clueless and/or suspiciously furtive. No wonder that a large number of us suspect the worst. AlanGiles Exactly that. Byrne seems totally