UK benefits too low, Council of Europe rules

In a ruling almost designed to get certain Eurosceptics foaming at the mouth, the Council of Europe (not to be confused with the European Union) has ruled that the UK's benefits levels are 'manifestly inadequate'.

According to The Guardian, the Council of Europe report states:

'Even if the minimum levels of short-term and long-term incapacity benefits, state pension and jobseeker's allowance satisfy the requirements of the European code of social security, they are manifestly inadequate in the meaning of article 12§1 of the charter as they fall below 40% of the Eurostat median equivalised income'.

The Department for Work and Pensions questioned whether the ruling is legally binding. Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, dismissed it as 'lunacy'.