Chancellor John Healey says: “It’s not progressive to accept a bigger and bigger benefits bill.” Bigger by what measure? As a share of GDP, welfare spending has remained broadly similar over the past 25 years. The OBR puts it at 10.9% in 2025–26, within the 10.5–12% range it describes for the late 1990s and early 2000s. There has been a recent rise, especially in health and disability support. That deserves an honest discussion about why more people need help. But Healey’s sweeping line invites people to blame claimants for an ever-growing bill, without explaining that the total includes the state pension or putting the figures in context. Why is a Labour Chancellor borrowing the language of the populist right?

Andrew Neil, "The big problem we face is 6.7 million adults of working, who aren't working, and living on out of work benefits" #BBCQT My view: Andrew Neil’s 6.7 million figure is real, but it does not mean 6.7 million people are able to work and choosing benefits. Of those 6.7 million, 4.6 million, 68%, are not required to look for work, mainly because they are ill, disabled or caring for young children. Of the remaining 2.2 million, many have health conditions that limit what work they can do. Only 71,000 are on Jobseeker’s Allowance. So using the 6.7 million total to imply Britain is full of workshy people is simply wrong.