Summary
The UK Labour government reversed its decision to cut disability benefits after facing opposition. The original aim was to save money quickly, but critics argue it was more important to focus on long-term plans to help people with health issues return to work.
Key Facts
- About 25% of people aged 16 to 64 in the UK do not have a job.
- Many are jobless due to caring responsibilities or health problems.
- Labour initially sought quick budget savings by tightening rules on benefit payments.
- They reversed this plan after a potential rebellion within the party.
- Critics argue the government should focus on long-term strategies to help people with health issues work part-time.
- The welfare reform aimed to save £5 billion per year by 2029-30.
- The reforms were initially planned to address a budget shortfall due to higher borrowing costs.
- Former Conservative official Iain Duncan Smith criticized the approach, saying piecemeal budget cuts without broader reform are ineffective.
