The Prime Minister vows to 'stick to my guns' and rejects 'brutal cuts' to welfare after Chancellor Healey's screeching U-turn
A TV interview in which Sophy Ridge challenged Andy Burnham over whether his Budget had ended "40 years of neoliberalism" — as a former Burnham adviser reportedly gave it a damning four out of ten.
Chancellor John Healey caused chaos across Whitehall by telling the BBC on Budget day that the welfare bill would fall before the next election, only for Downing Street to immediately contradict him; Healey then reversed himself altogether, saying it was "not correct" that Labour would cut the bill this parliament. Burnham, looking back on his first 100 days in No 10 through an ITV documentary, said his approach was not about "brutal cuts" but a new method he intended to stand by. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting deepened the confusion this morning, arguing that Healey's position left open the possibility of pre-election cuts.
The OBR warns sickness and disability benefits could hit £100bn a year before the decade ends, with the total welfare bill forecast to reach £431bn by 2032.
Kemi Badenoch called it 'astounding' that Labour 'can't commit to reducing benefits this decade', saying the Chancellor had reversed his position three times in 24 hours.
The IFS warned that Healey must contend with a £28bn gap in the public finances, with director Helen Miller saying she is 'no wiser' about how Labour will hit its 3% defence spending target.
