Tories vow to reform benefits system

The Conservative Party pledged on Saturday to end what it called Britain's "something-for-nothing" culture, accusing the government of wasting taxpayers' money by paying out benefits to people who are able to work.

David Cameron, in an article for Sunday's News of the World, released on Saturday, said a Conservative government would tighten the benefits system to protect against abuse and would withdraw payment from those who can work.

"Far too many are able to work but simply don't. We all know there are jobs available. That's a disgrace. We'll end the something for nothing culture," Cameron wrote.

In plans to be detailed later in the week, the Conservatives will promise to take 200,000 people off incapacity benefit and into work.

Every one of the 2.64 million people who receive incapacity benefit will be immediately reassessed by doctors, under the Tories' plans. People who are confirmed as too ill to work will continue to be paid full benefits but will be reassessed at regular intervals.

Those deemed fit to work will have their benefits cut by 20 pounds a week.

"There will be regular assessments of abilities, with unconditional help for those who genuinely cannot work, tailored support for those who can do some work or training, and a complete withdrawal of IB (incapacity benefit) for those who can work and should be working," Cameron wrote.

The Conservatives' promise, coming at a time when the party is ahead in the polls, could strike a chord with many Britons who suspect the incapacity benefit system is being abused.

The Labour government has also pledged an overhaul of the benefits system but Cameron said his party's proposals go much further than those set out by Labour.

"Right now in Britain, nearly five million working-age men and women are out of work and on benefits. Many of those are recently unemployed or have serious long-term illnesses. But too many -- far too many -- are able to work but simply don't," Cameron wrote.

He added that four out of five jobs in Britain go to foreign workers because Britons are not taking them.

"It's Gordon Brown's welfare system which is to blame. He's now spending 100 billion pounds a year in benefits, much of it paid to people not to work," he wrote.