RACHEL Reeves is facing pressure to slash the welfare bill rather than increase taxes.
The Chancellor is preparing to break her party’s manifesto promises and raise income tax in her Budget on November 26.
Welfare spending — including pensions — rose from £236 billion in 2015/16 to £285 billion in 2023/24, according to government figures analysed by the TaxPayers’ Alliance.
It is predicted to rocket to £324billion by the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, the number of working-age Britons sitting at home signed off sick or unemployed has rocketed.
Nearly two million people in England are signed off with a “limited capability” for work due to a health condition. Whereas in 2019 this figure was only around 170,000.
There has been a dramatic increase in people claiming Personal Independence Payment for mental health conditions including ADHD and anxiety.
Many Labour backbenchers want their Government to crack down on welfare.
They fear that failing to cut the bill down could make them lose the next election.
One Labour MP said: “I’m actually for cutting welfare but it has to be done right. A lot of backbenchers feel like this — but they won’t say it out loud.”
As pressure mounts to balance the public finances, should Reeves target welfare spending cuts rather than hike taxes?
Have your say in exclusive poll.
Love to debate? Join Sun Club for just £1.99 a month for the boldest opinion on the issues shaping Britain.
