Labour wants to abandon ‘blame culture’ in social benefits bill, says Work and Pensions Minister
Labour will stop using “divisive rhetoric” and blame people for welfare failures on culture, the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said.
Liz Kendall said a fundamental restructuring was needed to get people back to work. She warned that the increasing number of people dependent on state financial assistance was unsustainable.
According to an analysis by the Resolution Foundation think tank, Britain’s welfare spending will rise by £60 billion over the next four years, due to the increasing number of people claiming incapacity or disability benefits and guarantees for pensioners.
In an interview with The ObserverMs Kendall said: “I don’t think these increases are sustainable, but we can do something about it.”
She criticised the Tory government for using “divisive rhetoric that blames people rather than supporting them”.
In May, ministers launched a consultation on the PIP disability support scheme, which included replacing cash benefits with a voucher system and one-off grants.
Ms Kendall added: “We have never seen so many people written off. The last term was the worst in terms of economic inactivity ever. It is up to us to put that right. But we will need big reforms and big changes.”
“I know people are worried about this, but I want to say we are on your side. We will not write you off and blame you. We take our responsibility seriously. We will go out of our way to give you the support you need to build a better life.”
Ms Kendall added: “For all the talk about nerds versus freeloaders or slackers, I think the people who are really shirking their responsibilities are the people who were last in this office because they wrote off millions of people who actually want to work.”
She said the current system designed to help people back into work was “broken”. Ms Kendall said her department would consider serious reforms to job centres and linking them to the NHS.
She said employment agencies needed to focus more on helping people get back into work rather than monitoring benefits.
According to calculations by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, there are now 4.2 million people of working age who receive health insurance benefits.
They estimate that this number could rise to 5.4 million by 2028/29.
Ms Kendall has committed to a review of Universal Credit, new locally initiated plans to tackle economic inactivity and greater support for 18- to 21-year-olds to find training or work.
