Brief
Healey vows to cut welfare bill despite delaying reforms
Healey says the government will lower the benefits bill but will wait for a youth unemployment review before major reforms.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Chancellor John Healey told GB News that the government will bring down the "ballooning" welfare bill, even though his Budget delayed major welfare reforms until 2027.
What happened
Healey delivered the Budget on Wednesday, outlining measures such as face‑to‑face assessments for universal credit claimants and changes to universal credit rules to prevent people from claiming they are too sick to work. He said these steps aim to create "breathing space" for households while the overall benefits bill continues to rise.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned the Budget had postponed tough decisions, and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast health‑related benefits will exceed £100 billion by the end of the decade, with three‑quarters paid to working‑age adults. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described the welfare system as "drowning in an out‑of‑control welfare system".
What was said
Healey told GB News, "This was a broken system. And two years ago we started putting back in place face‑to‑face assessments… We will bring the cost of benefits down, especially for our young people, in a way that gives them a chance to make something of themselves." He added on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that "crude cuts" would be a bad idea while people feel cost‑of‑living pressures, but promised a reduction in the benefits bill before the next general election, saying it must be done "in a Labour way".
How it came about
The Budget follows earlier Felo coverage of Healey’s welfare reform stance, including his September call to drop opposition to reforms and the October announcement of extra borrowing to fund the rising welfare bill.
Key facts
- Healey said the government will reduce the welfare bill despite delaying major reforms until 2027. (independent.co.uk)
- The OBR predicts health‑related benefits will exceed £100 billion by the end of the decade. (independent.co.uk)
- Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called the welfare system "out‑of‑control". (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Healey insists he will bring welfare bill down despite delaying decisions”
