Britain’s welfare system faces renewed pressure for reform as Sir Keir Starmer declared on Monday a ‘moral mission’ to curb handouts, just days after the government increased welfare spending by £16 billion a year.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the current welfare framework has, in his view, left many trapped in poverty and out of work.
Starmer indicated plans to revisit measures that could tighten eligibility, including potential restrictions on young people claiming sickness benefits for mild mental health conditions—a proposal that Labour MPs previously opposed, forcing a government retreat.
Last week’s Budget saw total welfare spending rise sharply, now projected to grow from £333 billion to £406 billion by 2030. This includes scrapping the two-child benefit cap and shelving earlier planned reforms, costing £3.2 billion.
Despite the spending increase, Starmer argued in a London speech that the welfare system under the Tories had become ‘out of control’ and needed fundamental change.
Welfare charities have warned they will mobilize against any attempts to reduce benefit entitlements.
Source: This report was first published by DailyMail.
