Labour's welfare chaos deepened today as Andy Burnham dismissed the idea of 'brutal cuts' - after the Chancellor's humiliating U-turn on bringing costs down before the election.
asserted
Burnham → deepen → election
The PM insisted he is 'pioneering a new approach' amid more confusion over when the surging bill might be reduced.
uncertain
bill → insist → confusion
John Healey sparked panic among aides in interviews after his Budget by appearing to commit to lowering benefits before the country next goes to the ballot boxes.
asserted
country → spark → boxes
The Treasury desperately backpedalled before Downing Street said there was no 'arbitrary timetable' for savings.
asserted
Street → backpedalle → savings
Speaking last night, Mr Healey seemingly reversed his position entirely, saying it was 'not correct to say that we're going to bring this welfare bill down in this Parliament'.
asserted
we → speak → Parliament
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting threw fresh doubt on the situation as he toured broadcast studios this morning, arguing that the Chancellor had still not ruled out cuts before the election.
asserted
Chancellor → throw → election
In an ITV documentary to mark his first 100 days in No10, Mr Burnham tried again to explain his approach.
asserted
Burnham → mark → approach
In an ITV documentary to mark his first 100 days in No10, Andy Burnham tried again to explain his approach to welfare
John Healey sparked panic among aides in interviews after his Budget by appearing to commit to lowering benefits before the country next goes to the ballot boxes
'
asserted
country → mark → boxes
I don't actually want to see anyone in their 20s on benefits.
asserted
I → want → benefits
I just don't think that's a good place to be.
asserted
that → think → ?
Unless people can't be in work for reasons due to disability or whatever else it might be,' he said.
uncertain
he → say → disability
Pressed how he will bring the bill down, the premier said: 'You don't make the saving just to go to brutal cuts, because if you just go to brutal cuts... you will leave people in absolute crisis and then they will be going into other services in a chaotic way.
asserted
they → press → way
'So I'm pioneering a different approach and, you know, I'm going to stick to my guns on it.'
asserted
I → pioneer → it
Kemi Badenoch said it was 'astounding' that the Government could not commit to reducing benefits this decade, despite forecasts that the costs will rise by more than £60billion by 2029.
uncertain
costs → say → 2029
The Tory leader told the Daily Mail: 'Labour is addicted to benefits and this is why they are getting into a mess every day.
asserted
they → tell → mess
In just 24 hours, the Chancellor has said there will be no cuts to the benefits bill, gone on the BBC and said actually there will, then had to admit that actually there won't be.
asserted
Chancellor → say → BBC
'All while officials scramble to clean up the chaos.
asserted
officials → scramble → chaos
It appears the Prime Minister's 'foot in mouth' is contagious.
asserted
foot → appear → mouth
'
Delivering his Budget on Wednesday, the Chancellor said the Government would 'bring down the welfare bill' but offered no new proposals to cut a bill that is forecast to top £350billion next year.
asserted
that → deliver → 350billion
In interviews afterwards, Mr Healey was pressed repeatedly on what he would do about the issue and dismissed 'crude cuts'.
asserted
he → press → cuts
'I've said clearly, the Prime Minister said as well, we have to bring the benefits bill down,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
asserted
he → say → programme
Asked directly if there 'will be cuts in welfare before the election', the Chancellor replied: 'There will be, there will be a reduction in the benefits bill.
asserted
Chancellor → ask → bill
We'll do that in a Labour way and we will do that because it is simply not good for Britain or progressive to have a bigger and bigger benefits bill...
asserted
it → do → bill
'I feel a moral duty to deal with these youngsters who at the moment have been written off by previous governments.'
asserted
who → feel → governments
Aides told the BBC that Mr Healey had not been making any commitment on when there would be cuts.
asserted
Healey → tell → commitment
Sources accused the broadcaster of 'editorialising' by highlighting the exchange, even though the Chancellor's response appeared clear.
asserted
response → accuse → exchange
Mr Burnham then stepped in, with Downing Street insisting there was no 'arbitrary timetable' for reducing the costs.
asserted
Street → step → costs
Repeatedly asked about the remarks on a visit in the Midlands, the PM said: 'We want to get the welfare bill down as quickly as possible.'
asserted
We → ask → bill
He added: 'We just want to get stuck into supporting people...
asserted
We → add → people
we are working hard to cut the welfare bill as soon as we possibly can.'
uncertain
we → work → bill
No10 argued that Mr Healey's views were 'completely in line' with those of Mr Burnham.
asserted
views → argue → Burnham
In a fresh twist last night it emerged that the Chancellor told Channel 4 News 'it's not correct to say we're going to bring the welfare bill down in this Parliament' - suggesting he has abandoned hope of cuts before 2030-31.
asserted
he → emerge → 2030
'So it's not correct to say that we're going to bring this welfare bill down in this Parliament because we've not set a timetable for that,' he said.
asserted
he → say → that
Mr Streeting had a different interpretation of the remarks this morning, telling Times Radio: 'The Chancellor hasn't ruled ruled out cutting the welfare bill this Parliament.
asserted
Chancellor → have → bill
'What he said, and I think reasonably, is that there are two significant reviews going on at the moment.'
asserted
I → say → moment
The Aporia
