𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Critics warned last night that the Budget had left taxpayers footing a ballooning benefits bill.

Callum Price, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, told the Daily Express: “Everyone can see that the welfare bill is already on an unsustainable path, and the Government’s surrender to their backbenches has only made it worse.”

He warned: “An ever-growing welfare state built on the backs of ordinary working people will not last long, as the tax burden soars to yet another record high. The Government needs to grip the problem if it wants to have any hope of returning prosperity to Britain.”

The Chancellor defended her approach during the Budget, saying she was calling on “everyone to make a contribution”, despite previously pledging not to raise taxes on working people.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said the ballooning figure proved the Budget was for “Benefit Street”. She said: “Thanks to Rachel Reeves’ Budget, the Government is set to spend over £400 billion on welfare in the years ahead. This is proof that their Budget was for Benefit Street, paid for by tax raids on hard-working families and savers. Only the Conservatives would cut the ballooning welfare bill, grow the economy and get Britain working again.”

The figures underline the scale of Britain’s post-pandemic welfare expansion, with a growing number of households receiving Universal Credit or other benefits without any requirement to seek work.

It was revealed this month that more than five million people now receive working-age benefits without any requirement to find employment.

Ministers have ruled out major reforms to disability benefits despite projections showing the bill will reach £61billion by the end of the decade.

The DWP was approached for comment.