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A UK think tank reports that over the last two decades, Britain has spent £1.6 trillion on working-age benefits compared to significantly less on infrastructure investment. Specifically, welfare spending reached 5% of GDP while infrastructure received only 2.5%. The report highlights how this disparity affects economically struggling regions like parts of the North and South Wales, where job opportunities are scarce and economic growth is minimal. Ben Gregg from the think tank argues for investing in these areas to foster sustainable prosperity rather than relying solely on welfare payments.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) reported that between 2006/7 and 2024/25, the UK spent £1.6 trillion on working-age benefits, surpassing public investment in infrastructure by a significant margin. This spending represents 5% of GDP on welfare compared to just 2.5% on infrastructure such as transport, science, technology, and economic development. Ben Gregg, head of welfare at CSJ, criticized this approach, stating that governments have relied too heavily on welfare to address economic decline rather than investing in sustainable solutions. The report highlighted regions like North England, the Midlands, and South Wales, where economic output per person has hardly improved over two decades, underscoring a critical need for infrastructure investment to spur regional growth and job creation.
Written for “UK Welfare Spending Trends” on 2026-10-13,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 75129: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-12
The CSJ said the UK had spent £1.6 trillion on working-age benefits between 2006/7 and 2024/25, far outstripping public investment in transport, science and technology, economic development, housing and community amenities.
asserted
UK → say → transport
Ben Gregg, head of welfare at the think tank, said: “For decades, governments have tried to compensate struggling regions for economic decline rather than reverse it, using welfare to numb the pain instead of providing a reason to hope.”
But those proportions had now reversed, with the country spending 5% of GDP on working-age benefits and 2.5% on infrastructure investment.
asserted
country → say → investment
It added that the lack of investment was particularly acute in areas with high levels of worklessness – including areas of the North, the Midlands and South Wales where economic output per person had barely increased in two decades.
asserted
output → add → decades
Mr Gregg added: “A Britain where everyone has a stake in prosperity is one where good jobs and thriving towns are within reach of every community.
asserted
jobs → add → community
“That is not achieved by writing a cheque and forgetting about people.
asserted
That → achieve → people
It comes from investing in these places and removing the barriers that stop businesses doing the same.”
asserted
businesses → come → same
Read More
But he ruled out “crude cuts” to benefits, saying that should “never be the Labour way”.
asserted
that → read → benefits
A Government spokesperson said: “For too long, worklessness has been entrenched in too many communities, and people not given the opportunity to thrive.
asserted
worklessness → say → opportunity
“We are determined to get Britain working and boost growth in every postcode, including publishing the 10-year infrastructure strategy, increasing public investment by £120 billion to unlock private capital, and delivering reforms to planning, major infrastructure and regulation.
asserted
Britain → determine → planning
“We are also reforming the welfare system across the country by narrowing the gap between Universal Credit standard and health rates, restoring face-to-face assessments, and investing £3.5 billion in employment support whilst the Timms and Milburn Reviews will lay the foundation for sustainable reform.”
asserted
Reviews → reform → reform
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