𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Millions of people are being signed off sick and parked on benefits, and it is only rising under Labour. More and more people, especially young people, are claiming sickness benefits for mild mental health and neurodiversity.

Our sickness benefits system is no longer fit for purpose. Benefit assessments are rarely done in person, and years can pass before people are reassessed. Many people would be better off in work with the right support, but instead the state is paying them to stay at home.

That’s why Conservatives will stop cash benefits going to people with mild anxiety and ADHD and move towards giving people support instead. We’ll do this as soon as we enter government with assessments that take place face-to-face.

Our plans to fix welfare don’t stop there. Today we’re announcing a change to Universal Credit to get people who can work, but choose not to, back into jobs.

As long as they’re looking for work, people will be able to claim Universal Credit as usual. But if they’re still out of work after six months, their benefits will be cut by almost a third and paid onto a card that can’t be used for alcohol, cigarettes, betting or cash withdrawals. The exception is people who have worked hard and paid into the system in the past. The longer they’ve worked, the more time they’ll get before their benefits are cut.

We believe if you’ve worked and fall on hard times, your contribution will protect you. But if you’ve always relied on benefits, it’s wrong to expect taxpayers to pay your way. Those who can work, should work. These changes will save taxpayers half a billion pounds a year.

Kemi Badenoch has been clear: if Burnham needs help passing laws to get the benefits bill down, she will offer him Conservative votes. But he must also get off the backs of business so they can create jobs. That is how we will get the country back working again. With more jobs and less benefits, we can get back to welfare as a safety net not a lifestyle choice.

Helen Whately is the shadow work and pensions secretary