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There will be, there will be a reduction in the benefits bill, we'll do that in a Labour way

October 29, 2026

According to The Guardian, in a damning analysis, the IFS said Healey would need to have set aside an additional £28bn a year, to offset the impact of inflation on future spending plans and hit the target of spending 3% of GDP in defence by 2030.

BBC reports that when Healey was asked by the Today Programme on Radio 4 whether there would be a cut in the bill before polling day, Healey said: "There will be, there will be a reduction in the benefits bill, we'll do that in a Labour way." Earlier Healey was forced to clarify that the government was not committing to reducing welfare spending before the next election, which must be held by August 2029, Financial Times reports. Financial Times reports that Downing Street is meanwhile considering whether to push back the publication of Burnham’s flagship 10-year plan for the UK from December to January, according to government figures.

According to The Guardian, in a damning analysis, the IFS said Healey would need to have set aside an additional £28bn a year, to offset the impact of inflation on future spending plans and hit the target of spending 3% of GDP in defence by 2030. After the OBR estimated that so-called unprotected Whitehall departments — those not covered by government expenditure pledges on health, education, and defence — were on course for real-terms spending cuts of 2.6 per cent in the three years starting from 2029-30, Healey’s spending plans are under scrutiny, Financial Times reports. Financial Times reports that Healey’s modest maiden Budget used tax increases on banks, savers and property owners to fund a relatively small cost of living package, including £100 handouts to 20mn households to help with rising energy bills.

BBC reports that when Healey was asked by the Today Programme on Radio 4 whether there would be a cut in the bill before polling day, Healey said: "There will be, there will be a reduction in the benefits bill, we'll do that in a Labour way." Earlier Healey was forced to clarify that the government was not committing to reducing welfare spending before the next election, which must be held by August 2029, Financial Times reports. Financial Times reports that Downing Street is meanwhile considering whether to push back the publication of Burnham’s flagship 10-year plan for the UK from December to January, according to government figures. But in his interviews, Healey appeared to take a more cautious view than the prime minister on the potential for growth from rejoining Europe or the single market, The Guardian reports. Asked by ITV about Burnham’s view, Healey highlighted an upcoming UK-EU summit that is intended to agree closer trade ties between the two sides, Financial Times reports. Healey refused to accept the UK economy would be doing better inside the EU.

Financial Times reports that the fiscal watchdog estimates Britain’s £353bn of welfare spending this year will increase to £431bn by 2031-32. After welfare spending was forecast to increase from £353bn this year to £431bn in 2031/32, opponents raised concerns over the lack of details on welfare reform in Wednesday's Budget, BBC reports.

Still developing

Financial Times reports that the fiscal watchdog estimates Britain’s £353bn of welfare spending this year will increase to £431bn by 2031-32. After welfare spending was forecast to increase from £353bn this year to £431bn in 2031/32, opponents raised concerns over the lack of details on welfare reform in Wednesday's Budget, BBC reports.

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Sources

Toggle read the full reports of 4 of the 5 outlets counted on this event. The other 1 are counted from their headlines and opening sentences.