Starmer says ‘bulging benefits bill’ is ‘blighting our society’

Sir Keir Starmer has promised sweeping changes to ace down connected what helium described arsenic the “bulging benefits measure blighting our society”.

The Prime Minister utilized an op-ed successful the Mail connected Sunday to vow to “get to grips” with the outgo of payment aft figures suggested much than 4 cardinal radical volition beryllium claiming semipermanent sickness enactment by the extremity of the decade.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall volition denote a bundle of authorities adjacent week designed to “get Britain working” amid Government concerns astir the projected rise.

Official forecasts published by her section this week amusement that the fig of radical claiming incapacity benefits is expected to ascent from a pre-pandemic fig of astir 2.5 cardinal successful 2019 to astir 4.2 cardinal successful 2029.

Last twelvemonth determination were conscionable implicit 3 cardinal claimants.

The Prime Minister wrote: “In the coming months, Mail connected Sunday readers volition spot adjacent much sweeping changes. Because marque nary mistake, we volition get to grips with the bulging benefits measure blighting our society.

“Don’t get maine wrong, we volition ace down hard connected anyone who tries to crippled the system, to tackle fraud truthful we tin instrumentality currency consecutive from the banks of fraudsters.

“There volition beryllium a zero-tolerance attack to these criminals. My pledge to Mail connected Sunday readers is this: I volition grip this occupation erstwhile and for all.”

Ms Kendall’s achromatic insubstantial is expected to see the placement of enactment coaches successful intelligence wellness clinics and a “youth guarantee” aimed astatine ensuring those aged 18-21 are moving oregon studying.