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“Opponents raised concerns over the lack of details on welfare reform in Wednesday's Budget, after welfare spending was forecast to increase from £353bn this year to £431bn in 2031/32.”

“… did not address long-term questions such as how to raise defence spending to 3% of economic output, offset inflation’s impact on public spending and tackle the growing welfare bill, which includes pensions as well as support for people deemed too ill to…”

“He confirmed the reviews by former health secretary Alan Milburn into the million young people not in education, employment or training (Neet), and by welfare minister Sir Stephen Timms into disability benefits, will report back next month.”

“'We need to redistribute money from the welfare system to more employment support if we are going to end the NEET crisis.' Mr Milburn also called for employment, mental health and benefits support to be more integrated.”

“Alan Milburn, the Tony Blair-era health secretary, told the Guardian he believed ministers should reduce benefits payments to help pay for more employment support, opening a potentially contentious debate within the Labour party over welfare cuts.”

“Britain's benefits bill is set to soar by £5.5billion next year - significantly more than forecast - as Andy Burnham rejects 'crude' cuts to welfare spending.”

“'We're already restoring opportunity for young people through our £2.5billion youth employment package, investing record funding into employment support to help disabled people and those with long-term health conditions and rebalancing the standard and…”

“The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has made demands for cuts to welfare a central plank of her attacks on the government, telling Burnham in prime minister’s questions (PMQs) on Wednesday that he should cut welfare to fund higher defence spending.”

“…Halving the rate of employer national insurance on earnings for people aged between 21 to 24. – Blocking school leavers from moving straight on to out-of-work benefits in what they describe as a “tough love” approach to boost youth employment. – Scrapping the…”

“So I'm really focusing this on them.’ Kemi Badenoch pledged to unpick tax hikes blamed for fuelling youth unemployment Employers have blamed a triple whammy of changes under Labour for making it less attractive to employ young people.”

“The Greens have not specified a budget for the policy, but have argued it would reduce spending on welfare and boost tax receipts from employment.”

“Burnham has said he wanted to avoid “crude cuts”, and used his party conference speech to signal an overhaul of the welfare system to pay for an expansion of youth jobs and training support.”

“- Published The Conservatives have said they would introduce new work requirements for under-25s claiming benefits in a "tough love" approach to youth joblessness.”

“Everyone tells me this is all about Andy: “His empathy cuts through,” says one Scottish politician, “He has a natural instinct for connection,” says a campaigner from Manchester, “People on the doors love him!” exclaims a branch organiser from Loughborough.”

“…eech is a sign that the government is preparing the ground again for changes to the welfare system after Keir Starmer’s government was forced to U-turn last year on a £5bn-a-year programme of disability benefit cuts in the face of a Labour backbench…”

“Finally, they want ministers to stop Universal Credit (UC) for young people, and instead provide a new youth allowance.”