Compare and contrast

Two cases of women from Redditch have caught my eye and I think should be compared.

The first case is of Jacqui Smith who has been accused of having "inappropriately used (£42,130) for the maintenance of Jacqui Smith's home". Her punishment was to have to apologise to the House of Commons.

The second case is of Tracey Onions who was found guilty of dishonestly claiming Housing Benefit of £9,520.10, Income Support of £5,942.44, and Council Tax Benefit of £2,181.67 - a total of £17,644.21. Tracey Onions was not allowed to issue an apology she was "given a two-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, plus a 12-month supervision order."

Compare and contrast...


Interestingly the Redditch Standard article about poor Tracey Onions concludes

"Anybody wishing to report a suspected case of benefit fraud can e-mail benefitsfraud@redditchbc.gov.uk or call the fraud hotline on 01527 534 164 at any time.

Callers are asked to provide as much information as is known for the case to be investigated as fully as possible."