Andy Burnham could restrict access to welfare despite ruling out “crude cuts to benefit levels” amid rising pressure to find cash to fund defence spending and other commitments.
A senior ally of Burnham said his comments ruling out “crude cuts” were a reference to Sir Keir Starmer’s botched attempt to cut disability benefits, which he was forced to abandon after a major Labour revolt last year.
The ally did not rule out Burnham reforming conditions and eligibility for people to access benefits, alongside already announced plans to give regional mayors powers and money to get people into work, as a way of boosting employment and trimming the welfare bill.
Shorts
Sources have indicated to The i Paper they expect Alan Milburn, who is leading a review of youth unemployment, to recommend restricting access to benefits for young unemployed people, or attaching conditions to their welfare payments, in a bid to get more into work and cut the overall bill.
