Politics · United Kingdom · 2 hrs ago
UK government declines to set a deadline for cutting welfare spending
Chancellor John Healey said the UK government wants to reduce welfare spending, but his remarks appeared to suggest it would fall before the next election.
Treasury officials said he had not set that deadline, and Healey later said it was not correct to promise a fall during this Parliament.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government wants to act as soon as possible, while rejecting blunt cuts that could leave people in crisis.
Welfare spending is forecast to keep rising, with health-related benefits among the main drivers.
The spending outlook has put pressure on the government to explain how it will manage the growing bill.
Earlier attempts to change benefit rules faced a revolt from Labour MPs and were scaled back.
Two government reviews due in November will help shape next steps, covering disability benefits and young people not in education, work or training.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government was working to reduce welfare spending as quickly as possible, while supporting people into work.
Chancellor John Healey said the benefits bill would fall, but Treasury officials said he had not set a deadline for reductions.
Downing Street said the government was not setting an arbitrary target or timetable.
Further details are expected after two government reviews due to be published in November.
The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that total welfare spending would rise to £431 billion in 2031/32.
- Who
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey. The government is facing questions about its plans to reduce welfare spending.
- What
- The government says it wants to reduce the welfare bill, while supporting people into work. It has not set a timetable.
- When
- Burnham made the remarks on Thursday, 29 October 2026. The government’s plans are expected to be detailed further in November.
- Where
- Burnham spoke during a visit to Derby. Healey made remarks to broadcasters.
- Why
- The government says it wants to bring down welfare spending and help people into work. The OBR has warned that welfare spending is rising.
Government
Conservative Party
Timing of welfare reductions
Government
The government says it wants to reduce the bill as quickly as possible but has not set a timetable.
Conservative Party
Kemi Badenoch criticised the government for not committing to reducing benefits this decade.
Approach to spending
Government
The government says it wants to support people into work and avoid crude cuts that could leave people in crisis.
Conservative Party
Badenoch called for welfare spending cuts, saying ministers were too afraid to confront their MPs.
A mass revolt by Labour MPs led the government to retreat from proposed significant welfare changes.
Healey said the benefits bill would be reduced, prompting questions about whether he had promised a cut before the next election.
Burnham said the government was working to reduce the welfare bill as quickly as possible.
Two government reviews, on disability benefits and young people not in education, employment or training, are expected to be published.
- Forecast welfare spending
- £353 billion this year
- OBR forecast
- £431 billion in 2031/32
- Next election deadline
- By August 2029
- Expected reports
- Two government reviews due in November
- Burnham's visit
- Derby
4 sources
Humiliation for Healey: Chancellor is forced into screeching U-turn just hours after promising to cut welfare bill before next election
Burnham says he wants to cut welfare bill 'as soon as we possibly can'
وزير المالية البريطاني يتعهد بخفض الإنفاق على الرعاية الاجتماعية
Government working flat out to reduce welfare bill, PM says after cost warnings
What people are saying
We're working hard to cut the welfare bill as soon as we possibly can. But we're doing it in a way that supports people into work.
There will be, there will be a reduction in the benefits bill, we'll do that in a Labour way.
Don't let anyone tell you this was a 'do no harm budget'. In doing so little, Labour have harmed our economic security and they've harmed our national security.
If the government could get that through I think it would come with a huge bonus.