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“Government working flat out to reduce welfare bill, PM says after cost warnings The Government is working “flat out” to cut the ballooning costs of welfare spending, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has insisted after the Chancellor faced scrutiny about the rising…”

“Asked whether he would seek to reduce the bill before the next election, Burnham told reporters: "We want to get the welfare bill down as quickly as possible, and we're working flat out to that end."”

“Speaking later to reporters, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government was “working flat out” to get the welfare bill down as quickly as possible.”

“Full credit to Andy Burnham for keeping a straight face yesterday as he claimed to be working ‘flat out’ to reduce the benefits bill Regardless of what Messrs Burnham and Healey say, it is looking increasingly unlikely that any shortfall will be made up in…”

“….' John Healey was forced into a humiliating climbdown over welfare on Thursday (Britain's Secretary of State is pictured outside Downing Street) Kemi Badenoch said it was 'astounding' that the Government could not commit to reducing benefits this decade (The…”

“…s on savers, landlords and banks as he continued the Labour Government's record of pushing up the tax burden to new highs at every Budget; - Offered a £100 rebate to 20million homes in council tax bands A to D to help offset soaring energy bills this winter;…”

“- Published Chancellor John Healey and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have both spoken of their desire for the benefits bill to come down, but the government has not yet laid out a timetable for any reductions.”

“Soon after Healey’s remarks, the Treasury was briefing that, despite the splendid rhetoric, the Government had to raise money from somewhere – and the banks were a target.”

“Those hefty debts were then ruthlessly chased down by welfare officials who pursued carers using legislation designed to recover funds from drug dealers and organised crime bosses.”

“The proportion of general practitioners bulk-billing all of their patients has more than doubled in a year, a report has found, after the government introduced financial incentives for doctors and practices.”

“Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in the summer he wanted a "fair and lasting" reduction to the UK's welfare bill, while the government is under pressure from opposition parties to find savings from working-age benefits.”