Andy Burnham has set out his thoughts on benefits ahead of likely becoming the next Prime Minister. A major decision the former Greater Manchester Mayor will face if he is handed the keys to Number 10 will be around welfare and Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
Review of PIP Underway
A review over the future of PIP is currently ongoing and due to report its recommendations in the autumn. Burnham and his new Chancellor will have to tackle this issue and decide what to do.
Under plans by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves, some households faced cuts to their benefits, while it was set to become harder for new people to claim PIP, the UK's main disability benefit paid to around four million people.
Burnham's Stance on Reducing the Welfare Bill
Burnham has stressed the benefit bill will have to come down and that he is determined to get more people into work. However, he appeared to rule out any 'crude' cuts to benefits early on. So PIP cuts may be put off or scrapped completely.
He added he was keen to avoid a backlash from MPs and the public and further 'political turbulence' following the troubles suffered by Keir Starmer while in Downing Street.
Key Quote: No Crude Cuts
Burnham told the Times this week: 'I am not squeamish about saying that the plan would be to reduce the welfare bill. Not at all.' But he added: 'It is not the traditional Westminster way of just crude cuts, short-term cuts that then create a backlash and create more political turbulence.'
'It is actually going to do things that will reduce the benefits bill, moving towards a more preventative state that makes the right investments to support people into work.'
Preventative State Approach
'We do not have a preventative, productive, growth-enabling state. We are doing the opposite. We end up dealing with crises and spending huge amounts of money supporting people in a crisis situation rather than into much, much earlier intervention to a more positive outcome.'
