Selfridges has caused widespread anger following the release of a £55 T-shirt featuring a provocative statement that ridicules people who are unemployed.
The item of clothing could be found both online and in the company’s main branch on Oxford Street. It features the statement: "Nothing beats the feeling of unemployment when it comes to pay."
The eye-watering price tag of £55 for the T-shirt is more than half of the weekly unemployment benefit of £90.50, leaving many to question the store's tone-deaf approach.
Politicians have quickly denounced the item, labeling it as 'insensitive' and 'offensive.'
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith spearheaded the criticism, stating: "This is offensive and in bad taste — both to those attempting to leave welfare and to the taxpayers."
Why doesn’t someone make a T-shirt with the message, ‘There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of your very first paycheck you worked for’? This isn’t meant to be funny. Selfridges ought to discard such ideas.
Labour's Lord David Blunkett, who formerly held the position of Work and Pensions Secretary, added his opinion, saying: "In my view, it appears that somebody has totally gone off the rails."
'A spell without work might help get them up to speed.'
After receiving questions from The Sun on Sunday, the executives at Selfridges decided to take the contentious shirts off the shelves.
It follows recent comments from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has vowed to cut the welfare budget by £5 billion with an emphasis on helping individuals transition from sickness benefits to employment.
The Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, outlined plans to save approximately £5 billion due to concerns that escalating expenses are becoming unsustainable.
The emphasis will likely be on disability and incapacity benefits, where eligibility criteria will become more stringent and continuous reviews will be intensified.
Individuals experiencing mental health issues might encounter increased pressure to find employment, whereas those who areDisabled may be encouraged to attempt working, assured that they won’t suffer losses if it doesn’t work out.
Nevertheless, Sir Keir Starmer encounters persistent opposition within the Labour Party towards these suggestions even before their formal announcement, with detractors labeling them as 'shameful.'
Selfridges has been asked for clarification.
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