By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-08-27 06:31:42 | Updated at 2026-09-19 16:17:50
3 weeks ago
Britain's benefits system has a critical "design flaw", Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has warned.
Mr McFadden claimed that Universal Credit, which is handed to 8.4 million people in the UK, is too "black and white" and called for change in the system.
He said: "There’s a design flaw in the universal credit system, which too readily separates people into fit for work and unfit for work, and when they are unfit for work, leaves them without any support or any conditions.”
"I think that distinction is too black and white in the system as it stands. It’s something that I think they need to change."
Currently, around 4.27 million have no requirement to look for work, a figure Mr McFadden said needs to be reduced.
He added that the "culture of being signed off and written off" must be significantly reduced in Britain.
Welfare spending is estimated to rise from £350billion this financial year to £407billion by 2030-31, the Forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility have predicted.
The comments come shortly after Reform UK proposed an overhaul of the UK welfare system to cut spending by more than £50billion a year by 2030.
Nigel Farage's party vows that only British citizens would generally be entitled to most welfare benefits, with limited exceptions for armed forces service and contributory state pensions for those who have paid in.
This covers Universal Credit, housing benefit, pension credit, jobseeker's allowance, child benefit, free childcare, and disability payments.
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Andy Burnham warned anti-Israel sanctions could spark trade war with Donald Trump
Andy Burnham has been warned anti-Israel sanctions could risk a trade war with Donald Trump.
Alarms have been raised after it was revealed the Prime Minister is set to announce a "robust" package of sanctions which could amount to a "de facto boycott" of Israel.
The Prime Minister has now been told by Labour MPs that if he pushes ahead with the plan he may face retaliatory measures from the White House.
The President has frequently dished out or threatened tariffs - engaging in a recent trade war with Canada after taxing exports including raw materials, toilet paper, hockey sticks, and cotton t-shirts.
One Labour MP told The Times: "Our trade and diplomatic relationship with the US is fragile enough as it is.
"We shouldn't be naive enough to believe we could sanction Israel and not face any economic and political consequences from the White House, Congress or states with anti-BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) laws."
