Autumn statement: Public have ‘duty’ to work, says minister – as benefits shake-up looms
There is a “duty on citizens” to work if they are able to, a government minister has said.
Chief secretary to the Treasury, Laura Trott, told Sky News the Conservatives believe “if you can work, as a principle, you should work”, saying the tenet is “the thrust of all our policies”.
Her remarks came ahead of the autumn statement on Wednesday, where the government is expected to announce plans to force those with mental health or mobility problems to find work they can do from home, or risk losing their welfare payments.
Government sources have told Sky News there is a concern a large number of people are currently “written off” and there will be measures in the speech to address that.
Politics live: Whitty to face questions at COVID inquiry
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is said to be considering a big squeeze on benefits in order to make savings for the public purse.
Over the weekend, he said ministers needed to “take difficult decisions to reform the welfare state”, and he has not ruled out a change in the way the government increases benefits – perhaps using October’s lower inflation figure of 4.6% for the rise, rather than September’s higher number of 6.7%.
Economists said this would equate to a £3bn spending cut, largely impacting households receiving means-tested or disability benefits.
Charities and opposition MPs have appealed to the government not to make the move, saying it would hit the poorest hardest as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
Currently, around two million working age people are not employed – something Rishi Sunak dubbed a “national scandal” on Monday, claiming it was “not sustainable for the country”.
Asked by Sky News’ Kay Burley if the reports around the welfare shake-up were “uncaring”, Ms Trott said: “I think that if you can work, as a principle, you should work, and that is what the government believes, that’s been the thrust of all of our policies.
“Of course, there should be support for people to help them into work or to help them with issues that they’re facing.
“But ultimately there is a duty on citizens that if they are able to go out to work, that’s what they should do.”
She added that the Department for Work and Pensions – where she was formally a minister was “working very hard to make sure our welfare system is supporting those who need support”.
But, she said: “Those who can work, can contribute, should contribute. And that is the principle that we must keep throughout all of this.”
Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge
Sky News Monday to Thursday at 7pm.
Watch live on Sky channel 501, Freeview 233, Virgin 602, the Sky News website and app or YouTube.
Shadow work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, told Sky News said she was a “big supporter of flexible working and working from home”.
But she blamed the government’s lack of support for those with disabilities and mental health conditions for the number of those out of work.
Ms Kendall said: “It’s very interesting to see Rishi Sunak railing against the fact millions of people are out of work due to long-term sickness, saying it’s a scandal they’ve been written off. Well, who’s done that?”
The Labour MP added: “What those people want is access to the talking therapies they need to deal with anxiety and depression.
“They need adaptations at work or at home if they have a disability, and we are seeing huge waits for people to get adaptations – both at home and in the work place.
“We strongly believe in work. But the government has failed to achieve that and instead of railing against the problems that they themselves have created, we need to see a proper plan.”
Politics
Rishi Sunak suggests more tax cuts are on the way – but refuses to commit to triple lock manifesto pledge
Rishi Sunak has suggested more tax cuts are on the way because the economy has “turned a corner”.
The prime minister told reporters that while he would not comment on specifics, trimming taxes was “the direction of travel from this government”.
But it came as he refused to say if the pensions triple lock would be in the next Conservative Party manifesto – despite Downing Street insisting in September that it was “committed” to the policy.
Mr Sunak’s comments echo similar remarks by his ministers in recent weeks.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also said last month that the economy had “turned a corner” just before he unveiled a cut to National Insurance in the Autumn Statement.
However, four million people could also end up paying higher taxes if their wages rise after the government decided to continue the freeze on tax thresholds.
Reports suggest the Conservatives are considering additional cuts in 2024 as the party tries to woo voters and reduce Labour’s 20-point lead in opinion polls ahead of the next general election, which must take place by January 28 2025.
Cuts to stamp duty and inheritance tax are among the options reportedly being looked at by ministers.
When asked about the two policies, Mr Sunak said: “I would never comment on specific taxes. But what I will just say, though, is we have turned a corner.
“We have got inflation down, as I said we would, we have grown the economy and we are now focused on controlling spending and controlling welfare so we can cut taxes. So when we can do more, we will.”
He added: “We want to grow the economy, we want to reward people’s hard work and aspirations and cut their taxes responsibly. That is the direction of travel from this government.
“If you want controlled public spending, controlled welfare and your taxes cut, then vote Conservative.”
Read more from Sky News:
Starmer’s praise of Margaret Thatcher sparks party backlash
Fury as COP28 head questions ‘science’ of cutting fossil fuels
Abu Dhabi fund moves to take control of Daily Telegraph
Mr Sunak was unable to make similar promises about the triple lock, which ensures the state pension must rise every April by whichever is highest out of average earnings, inflation or 2.5%.
The policy has come under fire in recent months by critics who claim it has become too expensive and gives the government less financial “headroom” to deal with economic shocks.
Some senior Tories have called for it to be scrapped and Labour has refused to guarantee the triple lock will remain in place if it wins the next election.
While the government continued with the policy in its recent Autumn Statement, ensuring the state pension will rise by 8.5% in April 2024 to £221.20 a week, Mr Sunak refused to be drawn when asked directly if it would be in the next Tory manifesto.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Analysis: Autumn Statement 2023
Speaking to journalists as he flew between the UK and Dubai for the COP28 summit, he replied: “[I’m] definitely not going to start writing the manifesto on the plane, as fun as that would be.”
Mr Sunak acknowledged there had been “some scepticism” about if policy was going to form part of the Autumn Statement, but said its inclusion had been “a signal of our commitment to look after our pensioners who have put a lot into our country”.
Politics
Binance’s explosive growth led to compliance failures – CEO Richard Teng on $4.3B settlement
Politics
NHS will remain free at point of use ‘as long as I’m alive’, new health secretary Victoria Atkins vows
The new health secretary has promised the NHS will remain free at the point of use as long as she is “alive” as the service gears up for another difficult winter.
Victoria Atkins, who replaced Steve Barclay in Rishi Sunak’s most recent reshuffle, made the commitment while discussing the “unique” pressures the NHS faces every year.
“We have 11 million inpatients a year so the scale of the NHS is unique around the world,” she told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News.
“It is also unique because of the very fact that our care is free at the point of use. And that will continue for as long as I’m alive.”
Her commitment came as the NHS continues to suffer acute pressures, including a waiting list of an estimated 6.5 million people at the end of September and a high number of staff vacancies.
The difficulties facing the NHS has generated questions about its future, with the British Social Attitudes survey finding that the British public is the unhappiest it has ever been with the health service – but that it still supports it in principle.
Ms Atkins admitted there would be a “winter crisis” in the health service over the coming weeks and months as temperatures drop and people contract more illnesses.
She said the government had started preparing for the winter with an urgent and emergency care plan and that, having met its target to recruit 50,000 more nurses, it was “beginning to meet” the target of 5,000 more beds in hospital in a bid to cut delays.
File pic
Asked about the fact that three coroners had written to her to warn that ambulance delays were already causing unnecessary deaths, Ms Atkins said she was “very concerned” but that 800 new ambulances would be brought into the service.
She also claimed that category two ambulance times – which cover urgent calls for problems including strokes, and demand a response time of 18 minutes – had already improved.
Sir Trevor read out statistics from NHS England which showed that in 2014, the total number of people who had to wait 12 hours for hospital admission after a decision had been taken to admit them was 489.
In October this year, the average number of people who had to wait over 12 hours stood at 1,440 – nearly three times as many, he said.
Asked what she would do to solve the problem, Ms Atkins said hospital discharge was key.
“What we are doing to address this is almost looking at the end rather than the beginning, because if we can move people out of the system more quickly, then the flow through the hospitals is much smoother and quicker.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Ms Atkins was asked about how the NHS would fill 121,000 vacancies if the UK looks to cut immigration, with statistics showing that in June this year 265,000 people in its workforce came from abroad.
Read more:
Norovirus: Winter vomiting bug cases far higher this year, warns NHS
Nurses’ union calls for pay negotiations to be reopened to anger of other health groups
Ms Atkins said that while those from overseas who worked in the NHS were “incredibly important to the system”, “immigration as a whole is too high”.
Last week, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that net migration hit a record high of 745,000 in 2022 – revised up from a previous estimate of 606,000.
Ms Atkins said the government’s long-term workforce plan will see more nurses and doctors in the UK trained and retained in the system.
“We are working across government to tackle immigration because we understand it’s of great concern, but we can do this in a way that protects the NHS,” she added.
-
Sports1 year ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports8 months agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Environment6 months agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports2 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment10 months agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Technology2 years ago
Game consoles were once banned in China. Now Chinese developers want a slice of the $49 billion pie
-
Politics2 years ago
Have the last few wobbly weeks seen a turning point for Johnson as PM?
-
Business1 year agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway