Haigh refuses to say when Labour will ‘get welfare bill down’
Andy Burnham’s deputy Louise Haigh refused to say when Labour will “get the welfare bill down” while adding the government would aim to “invest in success” when asked whether more taxes would cover increases in the benefits bill. Haigh, who is referred to as the Prime Minister’s “enforcer” and stood in for Deputy Prime Minister’s [...]
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Louise Haigh, dodged a question about when Labour would bring the welfare bill down. Referring to herself as the Prime Minister's "enforcer," Haigh defended the government's plans to invest in success, rather than relying on tax increases to cover rising benefits spending. When probed about the possibility of raising taxes to subsidise the welfare bill, Haigh stated that Labour would make support more conditional on individuals taking up opportunities, and that they would address long-term factors contributing to welfare spending, such as high housing costs.
The Office for Budget Responsibility projected that total welfare spending would increase from £334 billion in 2025 to £413 billion in 2030, driven largely by pensioner spending and the triple lock on pensions. Alex Burghart, the Conservative MP representing the question, highlighted that benefits spending surpassed spending on defence, schools and policing combined.
The government faced criticism for delaying welfare spending reviews, including the Alan Milburn review on youth unemployment, with the Milburn report expected within weeks. The government will release its full welfare policy paper next year. Burghart questioned Haigh on her stance, pointing out that benefits spending totaled £183 billion, excluding pensioner spending, and emphasizing that the sum exceeded spending on defence, schools and policing combined.
Written by urgent.news from City AM's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
