Tackling benefit cheats is a start, Chancellor – now take a sledgehammer to the bloated welfare system
Benefits blitz 1 comment 1 Next HATS off to the Chancellor for launching a ferocious new crackdown on benefit cheats plundering the system. Nearly £10billion is lost every year to fraud and error and John Healey has a moral duty to stop taxpayers’ money being abused. The Chancellor’s crackdown on benefit cheats is welcome, but with nearly £10billion lost to fraud and error every year, much more needs to be done to protect taxpayers’ money Credit: PA Welfare spending now dwarfs what is spent on the NHS, yet Starmer has delayed decisions on cuts until after the Budget, leaving taxpayers to pick up the bill Credit: EPA Advertisement But he must not kid himself that his Budget blitz will free up enough cash to put debt-plagued Britain on the road to economic recovery. By his own estimates, 2,000 anti-fraud officers are expected to save £1.4billion — less than 0.5 per cent of the £334billon welfare bill . Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. This won’t even scratch the surface after last week’s jump in inflation added £5.5billion to the tab. Welfare costs more than any other public service, with the DWP’s massive budget exceeding what we spend on the NHS . But the PM has delayed a decision on cuts until after the Budget. READ MORE FROM THE SUN SAYS THE SUN SAYS Healey's Budget MUST back business and reverse Starmer’s tsunami of tax rises THE SUN SAYS Burnham just meddles in minor issues rather than solve UK's major problems If Labour is serious, it could get a grip on the ballooning cost of disability and sickness payments to those with low-level mental health conditions, and restrict payments for non-UK citizens. Tackling fraud is a good start, Chancellor. But until you take a sledgehammer to the bloated system, taxpayers will continue to feel cheated. Stop dithering ANDY Burnham is trying desperately to paper over the cracks in his Government on immigration . The PM says he strongly supports Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ’s reforms to ensure the right to settle in Britain must be earned. Advertisement Most read in The Sun FRAUDBUSTERS Labour set to deploy 2,000 anti-fraud specialists to battle benefits cheats HOLS TRAGEDY Brit mum who drowned while trying to save her two kids in Bahamas pictured WHINING PM PM says booze shouldn't be priority in emergency kit in case of attack by Russia CHIEF MUST GO Cop raped by David Carrick calls for Met chief to quit after ordeal But he stops short of backing all the changes she has proposed, including making foreign workers wait ten to 15 years instead of five to claim indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Why? Because he is scared of upsetting 100 left-wing MPs opposed to the change. The crackdown is needed now to prevent millions who arrived after Brexit from winning permanent status from next year. Without this move, more than 1.6million migrants will become eligible for settlement, allowing them to claim benefits and access public services. Burnham should stop dithering, show some leadership and get four-square behind his Home Secretary’s bold plan. Advertisement That could work NEARLY a million young people are stuck on the jobs scrapheap, some facing the grim prospect of a lifetime on benefits. Many are just looking for their first foothold in the world of work but are prevented from doing so by red tape. Three million hardworking sole traders want to offer work experience but are choked by £300 insurance bills . RECOMMENDED STORIES Along with our Jobs Army campaign , Alan Milburn’s plan to let the state back these placements would help small firms and give under-25s a vital start. Most youngsters don’t want handouts – they just need a foot in the door. Advertisement 1 comment 1