|GBNews|
The Labour government is conducting reviews of the welfare bill, with findings from Sir Stephen Timms expected by the end of this month. Critics argue that the lack of clear timescales for benefit cuts and the reliance on further reviews is delaying action on rising welfare costs.
Louise Haigh could not provide a timeline for reducing the benefits bill. Additional legislation is expected next year following the reviews.
Transcript
“Okay, we finished Deputy PMQs. What was your takeaway then? Well, I think it was good to talk about the welfare bill, but Louise Haigh could not put a timescale on trying to bring this benefits bill down at all. It doesn't seem like they're willing to make any cuts, so they're hoping somehow that more people are going to decide to get a job. They keep doing reviews to avoid doing anything. We're going to see the result of the reviews by Sir Stephen Timms by the end of this month. There's a second review also reporting then, and then more legislation next year, and that's why it's just parking the problem. And all the time we are spending billions of pounds every month on this issue, not being tackled by the Labour government.”