Gordon Brown, welfare reform and the passage of time

Rosa's story this morning on Government welfare reform plans has interesting echoes.   In essence, ministers plan to apply an even bigger stick to benefits claimants who don't seek work, removing benefits from those who don't comply.   

Rewind to 1985, when Gordon Brown was making his name as a talented Labour MP with a knack for grooming befriending civil servants who could give him interesting Whitehall documents.   Thanks to the Damian Green saga, we've all been able to enjoy some sofa-based crowing over one such leak. 

Sadly, the footage has been cut and doesn't explain just what the wicked plan in question was.  It was, of course, dastardly bid to cut the benefits of claimants who failed to seek work.  The young Gordon described that as "a raid on the poor."