Luxury department store Selfridges has faced fierce criticism after selling a £55 T-shirt featuring a slogan that mocks unemployed people.
The garment displayed the phrase: “Nothing pays as good as unemployment feels,” and was available to buy online and at the retailer’s flagship store in London’s Oxford Street.
Priced at £55, the top costs more than half the weekly unemployment benefit of £90.50 that jobseekers have to survive on.
Outraged politicians demanded the T-shirt be withdrawn from sale, branding it offensive and insensitive.
Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “It is an insult and in poor taste — both to those trying to get off benefits and taxpayers.
“Why don’t they do a T-shirt saying, ‘Nothing feels as good as that first pay cheque you earned yourself’? It is not a joke. Selfridges should bin them.”
Lord David Blunkett, who served as Work and Pensions Secretary under Tony Blair, added his criticism, declaring: “It seems to me as though someone has completely lost their marbles.
“Perhaps a taste of unemployment might bring them up to speed.”
Following an inquiry from The Sun on Sunday, Selfridges bosses removed the controversial tops from sale.
Selfridges declined requests for comment.
The row comes amid Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s recent vow to reduce the welfare budget by £5 billion, pledging to help more people off sickness benefits and back into employment.
