Universal Credit: The Next Stage

The basket case formerly known as the Celtic Tiger is suggesting that its more expendable citizens should become expat workers in Europe or immigrants in the United Kingdom. The Dublin government, which has sent letters to about six thousand people tactfully suggesting that their country might be better off without them, insists that the social cleansing is purely voluntary, and has emphasised that even badly-paid work can come with a Mediterranean climate. Should Britain's coalition choose to emulate this shining example of the art of the possible in economic policy-making, the tone will doubtless be less indulgent; perhaps vans can be driven through areas of high unemployment to name and shame selected shirkers, always assuming that there is no objection from the private companies running the probation service, the prison service and other profitable means of garbage disposal.