Jeremy Clarkson slams young people on benefits ‘sitting at home all day’ – as Burnham tries to tackle welfare bill

JEREMY Clarkson has slammed young people on benefits for “sitting at home all day.” The Clarkson’s Farm star let loose in his latest column saying youths on benefits should offer gratitude to the taxpayers who support them. Clarkson suggested a radical shake up to the benefits rules Credit: PA Andy Burnham signalled last week that ministers could tighten rules on benefit claimants Credit: Getty It comes as new PM Andy Burnham pushes to get more young people into work – signalling last week that ministers could tighten rules on benefit claimants. Speaking in his column today, Clarkson said more than 1million young people are not working. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The TV presenter said instead, youths were “sitting at home gormlessly watching shortform nonsense.” According to the Clarkson’s Farm star – unemployed youngsters with ADHD or other mental health issues can claim up to £194 a week. The former Top Gear host suggested benefits claimants write letters to taxpayers to thank them Credit: Getty Clarkson’s suggestions come as its revealed nearly 1million young people are out of work Credit: Splash To pay for it, Labour has introduced tax rises at the party’s last two budgets – both under Rachel Reeves. In her first budget Reeves raided some £40billion, promising it would be a one off. But at her next budget the former Chancellor took a further £26billion in tax rises. Clarkson goes on to explain that he is happy to pay for his dogs’ lives, look after them, and put up with their nonsense because in return he gets gratitude. Most read in The Sun Writing in The Sunday Times, the former Top Gear host said: “Which is what gave me my big idea. At present, people who work hard, feed, clothe and entertain those who won’t work at all. And what do we get in return? Nothing. “So how’s this for a plan? Burnham appeases his back benches by saying that taxes will rise to pay for those who are incapacitated by some kind of issue with neurodivergence. “And then he appeases us by insisting we get something in return. Which is a thank you letter.” Going on, Clarkson explains that he would be happy with further tax raids to pay for a growing welfare bill in exchange for heartfelt thank you notes from people claiming benefits. He suggests giving the email address of a working person to people claiming benefits and ensuring a thank you letter is sent to them. His tongue-in-cheek suggestion comes as analysis revealed some teens on sickness benefits receive around £100 a week more than others working part-time on minimum wage. New PM Andy Burnham plans to deal with the problem by encouraging young people into work. He has unveiled a shake-up of secondary schools to better prepare youngsters for the job. Mr Burnham said: “I want an education system based on parity between academic and technical which gives all young people a clear path in life. “From today, Britain will value the hard hat every bit as much as the graduation cap.” Mr Burnham’s education reforms sit alongside a wider attempt to tackle Britain’s soaring welfare bill. In an interview with the BBC, he signalled some benefits could come with tougher conditions, saying: “It’s about changing the nature of the support and making some of it conditional on people taking opportunities that are presented. “So you might increase the conditions required to receive benefits.” But he insisted he was not blaming people already claiming. 2 comments2