Benefits uprating a sick joke

 The "red meat" statements made in the House on Tuesday served to rally the Tory troops behind Boris Johnson in his period of "partygate" travail. Coverage of both helped to obscure notification that a benefits up-rating Order was laid on the same day confirming the government's intention that the rise will be no more than 3.1%. This is less than the wage rate increase which in turn lags behind CPI (5.1% in November, 5.4% last month and expected to rise to 6% in April). 

The Order will be subject to debate but no doubt the government's massive majority will see it through.