Labour has become the party of welfare, not work Politics A generous interpretation of events would be to concede that Labour has avoided any attempt at welfare reform because it’s been waiting for the conclusions of Alan Milburn’s review into the crisis of youth unemployment. Milburn, who served as health secretary under Tony Blair, will publish the first part of his government-commissioned report this week, [...]
‘Economic catastrophe’: Social media and welfare state ‘to blame’ for youth unemployment Economics Social media and the welfare state are pushing Britain towards an “economic catastrophe” over youth unemployment, a landmark government review has found. Smartphones have “rewired” the brains of young adults and left them trapped in unemployment, former health secretary Alan Milburn has found in an official report commissioned by Sir Keir Starmer. Labour ordered the [...]
Tories pledge to slash tax and red tape in ‘alternative King’s Speech’ Politics The Tories have set out their vision for the UK economy, pledging to slash taxes and red tape to “back innovation, entrepreneurship and growth”. Kemi Badenoch’s party has said it would slash welfare spending, scrap business rates for high street business and repeal Labour’s workers’ rights reforms. The Conservatives have published their “alternative King’s Speech,” [...]
Tories target £1bn benefits loophole in welfare crackdown May 3, 2026 The Conservatives have pledged to close what they claim is a £1bn loophole in the welfare system, in a move aimed at tightening benefit rules and boosting incentives to work. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the party would overhaul the benefit cap so households cannot receive unlimited payments unless all adults who [...]
The Debate: Should cultural landmarks have equal pricing for benefits claimants? April 15, 2026 As discounted tickets for those on benefits kicks off a Twitter storm over 'fairness', we hear both sides of the argument in the Debate.
The madness of a state that spends more on welfare than it raises from income tax April 7, 2026 If it were possible to buy Happy New Tax Year cards you’d surely find them stocked in the ‘With Sympathy’ section. As of yesterday, the state has increased its demands on a host of taxpayers. Dividend tax is up two per cent for basic and higher rate taxpayers, with the latter now hit by a [...]
Reform UK: Robert Jenrick promises to ‘defuse benefits bomb’ February 18, 2026 Reform UK will restore the two-child benefits cap if it wins the next election, Robert Jenrick has confirmed in a speech in which he branded the Britain’s benefits system an “economic and moral disaster”. In his first formal remarks as the party’s Treasury spokesman, the former Tory shadow justice secretary confirmed Reform no longer supported [...]
Benefits to increase more than expected next April October 22, 2025 Most state benefits will rise by 3.8 per cent next year in line with September’s rate of inflation, exceeding earlier predictions by the Treasury watchdog. September’s CPI inflation figures are used to calculate the increase to many welfare bills which take effect next April, including universal credit and personal independence payments (Pips). The rise is [...]
Pat McFadden: I will get young people back to work October 15, 2025 The secretary of state for work and pensions, Pat McFadden, says Labour will tackle rising unemployment by ensuring young people don’t graduate into a life on benefits Since becoming work and pensions secretary, I’ve seen many brilliant examples of people – particularly the young – being supported towards employment. From partnerships with football clubs helping [...]
Reeves must get ruthless on welfare October 2, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ plans for a youth guarantee scheme and lifting the two-child benefit cap are not enough to tackle the spiralling welfare bill, says Jamila Robertson This week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced her plan to fix the unemployment crisis, which has seen 621,000 under-24s out of work this year. Reeves’ ‘youth guarantee’ scheme would provide [...]