A BILL to introduce a food stamps-style scheme by Tory backbencher Alec Shelbrooke has been abandoned.

This ludicrous idea proposed all benefits should be paid on “smart Cards” with the Government dictating what a benefit claimant could and could not purchase.

The idea that the £56.25 subsistence a young person receives on Jobseeker’s Allowance is helping fund luxury holidays and top-of therange gadgets is born of fantasy Mr Shelbrooke’s image of an unemployed person is outdated and stereotypical – a slothful Andy Capp-style character whose only interests are boozing, smoking and fiddling the system.

Mr Shelbrooke wants to get his facts correct – the only people who spend their time boozing, smoking and fiddling the system are some disreputable MPs.

Stephen Dixon, Redcar.