Letter from the Deputy Editor: The Unemployed are now forced to sign on every day

The course has been set, obstacles constructed and the bars on the jumps have been raised. (Watch out for those sneaky ditches and twists that weren’t there last year). Be careful – if you’re a non- runner, fall on the course or fail to finish, you may be out of action for months. And if you make it to the end? Well done! Now do it all again tomorrow.

No, it is not the Grand National weekend again. The Government’s new rules for those claiming jobseeker’s allowance come in to force today – along with a few more surprises to “encourage” people to find their way back into employment.

If you live next door to a Jobcentre, all you have to do is find a couple of hours to pop outside, take one of those little tickets from a machine (just like you used to do at the meat counter at Tesco) and wait until your number comes up.

If you’re lucky enough to live away from the high street, not to worry. It’s only an hour or so on the bus each way and probably won’t cost you more than £5 a day on travel – that’ll mean you’re at least £40 in pocket for your efforts each week (if you’re under 25, I'm afraid it’s more like £30).

But that’s OK, it’s not like you’ll be doing anything else all day, like actually looking for a job or caring for your children because you can’t afford a childminder. Anyway, it’s good practice for when you finally find work.

If you don’t fancy that, there’s always the option of taking on compulsory work as a “volunteer” for a charity. I know a few have said they’re not comfortable with forcing people to work for them, but I’m sure the many others that have likened it to slave labour will soon come round to the idea.

But just remember, you only have to do this because it’s your fault that you’re not one of those “hardworking people” the Government champions at every opportunity.

Under starter’s orders...

i@independent.co.uk