Would You like a feature Interview?
All Interviews are 100% FREE of Charge
Rishi Sunak said the Conservatives were “fully committed” to reforming disability pay and urged recipients not to worry about their support being cut.
Speaking before the start of the general election campaign, the Chancellor said he wanted to overhaul Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other benefits to reduce the burden on taxpayers and make financial support better targeted.
He suggested changes to PIP could include reducing the number of people covered by regular cash transfers and replacing it with one-off grants or in-kind support.
The government launched a consultation on the issue but Mr Sunak’s decision to call an election earlier than expected meant that it was unable to implement any of the proposed reforms or even announce details.
Questioner I During a campaign visit to Wiltshire, the Conservative leader confirmed he still plans to push ahead with PIP reform if he is returned to power.
Mr Sunak said: “No one who needs help should have to worry that they won’t get it, because I believe in a compassionate welfare system for people who need help and support.”
“As I said in that speech, what we need to ensure is that people who need support get it in the right way. It’s crucial that people with mental illness in particular have access to treatment, for example. But it’s also important that welfare does not become a way of life. Welfare remains a safety net.”
He added: “The welfare system must always focus on supporting those who genuinely cannot work with compassion and generosity, but at the same time make sure that we support everyone who can work to do so. That is the reform that I have put forward and I am absolutely committed to it.”
Consultations on the changes are ongoing, but ministers and officials are barred from responding during election periods.
Labour, which is leading the opinion polls by a large margin, has refused to say whether it would continue the government’s policies – it has previously criticised welfare cuts made under 14 years of Conservative governments – but has not said it would reverse them.
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves I “The current system is skewed and sometimes it doesn’t make sense for people to work extra hours, and of course it costs taxpayers more, so we need to make sure the benefits system always rewards work,” he said last month.
“It’s also important that people, particularly those with disabilities, have the support they need to get into work. The vast majority of people with disabilities want to work and should be supported to do so if they are able to.”
2024 Election
Senators Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have returned to campaigning after a hiatus to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Senatorial election. I‘s General Election live blog is the place to be for everything from party manifestos to candidate news and who will decide the outcome of the election.
Sir Keir and other party leaders criticised Sunak for leaving a ceremony to mark the Normandy landings early – leading to him apologising – while Labour announced plans to help first-time buyers get onto the home-buying ladder.
meanwhile, I The UK government has launched a “Protect Britain’s Rivers” manifesto, calling on political parties to make five pledges to improve our waterways, with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey the first to back the campaign.
Tonight, the seven leaders of the main political parties will go head-to-head in the general election leaders’ debate, which will be covered in full on our liveblog. I Website.