George Osborne has confirmed that there will be further massive cuts in the benefits budget, but refuses to say where they will fall, leaving working age claimants the likely target for the worst excesses.{jcomments on}
In his budget speech yesterday Osborne confirmed there will be a further cut of £12bn in benefits spending, but gave no further details. Given that pensioners are largely protected, that leaves unemployed, sick and disabled claimants as the only realistic target for big savings.
This morning Osborne told the Today programme:
‘I’m proposing the same pace of cuts as over the last five years.”
He added:
“We’ve saved £21 billion in this Parliament and we need £12bn in the next. People can judge me by my track record”.
We know that there are plans to reduce the household benefit cap further and to stop housing benefit for some under 25 year olds. But these measures will be nowhere near enough to meet the proposed level of savings.
This is especially so when you consider that, with out-of-control rents, the housing benefit bill is set to continue to expand.
It certainly is possible to judge Osborne and his fellow ministers by their track record.
Over the last five years we have seen the introduction of the bedroom tax, the replacement of DLA with PIP, the time limiting of ESA, massive increases in sanctions and the destruction of the social fund, to name but a few.
None of these measures were in the Conservative party manifesto. And none of them, it seems, have come close to being harsh enough in Osborne’s view.
Where is there left now to make cuts in the benefits budgets? Where do you think the axe will fall? Let us know in the comments section below.
