Labour Minister staunchly defends Starmer’s benefits raid despite looming revolt from MPs: ‘Social Security is broken!’
Work & Pensions Minister Alison McGovern has declared the current social security system “broken” after defending Sir Keir Starmer’s plans to slash Britain’s benefits bill.
Speaking in the House of Commons earlier today, Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall published a green paper outlining plans to slash the “ballooning benefits bill” and boost the country’s finances.
The Government’s plans include significant changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and job centre services, resulting in cuts amounting to around £5billion.
McGovern told GB News the reforms are necessary as the system left by the Conservatives has “significant problems”.
McGovern highlighted the scale of the problem facing the Government: “2.8 million people are out of work, not well. That is a tragedy for them and it’s a disaster for our economy,” she told GB News.
“We have got to change it,” she added.
The minister outlined three key areas for reform: “Good health support through the NHS, fixing the NHS, good jobs in every part of the community with the right investment, and then making sure that your local job centre is a place you want to go and you can get good support from it.”
She emphasised the Government’s commitment to helping people into employment.
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“We want people in this country to have the chance at getting into work,” McGovern said.
McGovern specifically addressed changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP). She said: “We’re also experiencing significant numbers of new applications to PIP, to personal independence payments as a part of Social Security,” she explained.
“We need to make sure that the Social Security system is sustainable, because we want the welfare state to survive for generations to come,” McGovern told GB News.
She added: “We are focusing the resources on the people who need it most, who’ve got the most significant disadvantages.”
McGovern also promised a complete overhaul of the Department for Work & Pensions.
“We are changing the Department for Work and Pensions from top to bottom,” she declared.
She concluded: “Alongside helping people to move into work, we need to make sure that the Social Security system is sustainable.
“Because we want the welfare state to survive for generations to come, so we are focusing the resources, on the people who need it most, who’ve got the most significant disadvantages.”