Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘soft touch’ approach to benefits ‘could cost taxpayers £450m a YEAR’
SIR Keir Starmer’s “soft touch” approach to benefits could cost taxpayers £450million a year, a Cabinet minister says.
Mel Stride said Labour would wreck peoples’ chances of getting into a job.
Tory analysis claims 1.4 million claimants would face reduced pressure to find a job under Labour.
They point to shadow employment minister Alison McGovern calling for rules ensuring jobseekers move into work at the earliest opportunity to be watered down.
She said Labour would end the “any job” culture that sees people in jobs they do not want.
But allowing job seeking claimants to remain on benefits for just an extra month could cost taxpayers an additional £450million a year, the Tories calculate.
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Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Stride said: “Labour’s soft touch on welfare would wreck the progress the Conservatives have made getting people off benefits and into work, taking us back to square one.
“While Starmer has no plan to help people into work, it is very telling that Labour’s only serious proposals are to water down benefit rules — costing taxpayers millions and harming claimants’ prospects of getting a job.”
A Labour spokesman hit back at the claims: “This is not a Labour spending commitment and never has been.
“Those who can work must look for work and take jobs when they are offered.”
