Chancellor John Healey insists the benefits bill 'will come down under Labour' but refuses to set a timetable for savings
John Healey spoke with Laura Kuenssberg as Chief Treasury Secretary Emma Reynolds also refused to commit, telling LBC the government had reduced the gap between youth and adult minimum wage rates "by a third.A data graphic showing Britain spent £1.1 trillion more on benefits than infrastructure over 19 years, as two government reviews on PIP reform and youth employment are due to report this month.
John Healey admitted on BBC's 'Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg' that the welfare system is "not working" and promised "big changes" will begin next year. The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned sickness and disability benefits alone could hit £100 billion a year before the end of the decade. Healey's Budget last week delayed major welfare reforms until 2027, sparking days of confusion over his own earlier remarks about pre-election savings.
Healey sparked a No 10 panic this week after remarks were interpreted as committing to cuts before the 2029 election.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said Labour would 'legislate to bring the welfare bill down in a fair and sustainable way' but also refused to set a timetable.
The OBR warned Healey will need to find an extra £11bn to prevent day-to-day spending falling in the final years of the fiscal forecast.
