PM Andy Burnham rejects 'brutal cuts' and vows to 'stick to my guns' on welfare after Healey's U-turn
John Healey, the Chancellor, seeing off a pint of 'Chancellor's Choice' after a long Budget day, in a picture posted on X by Labour MP Dan Tomlinson.
Chancellor John Healey set off a 24-hour Westminster crisis by seeming to pledge welfare cuts before the next election, then walking back the commitment entirely, saying it was "not correct" to claim the benefits bill would fall this parliament. Burnham moved to distance himself, declaring he is "pioneering a different approach" and declining to attach any deadline to reductions. The OBR has projected that sickness and disability benefits may reach £100bn a year by the decade's end.
Kemi Badenoch called it 'astounding', saying Labour had flip-flopped three times in 24 hours.
The IFS warned Healey's Budget leaves a £28bn hole and risks 'brutal' cuts to departmental spending.
Burnham now concedes that his opening Budget fell short of the ambition he had hoped to achieve.
