Number 10’s spokesman today, asked if Starmer supports Wes Streeting’s call to slash welfare spending to fund defence:
“The best way to get the welfare bill down in the long term is to support more people into work and I’ve set out a number of ways in which we’re doing that… we are committed to reforming the welfare system… we make no apologies for lifting children out of poverty, but in terms of the overall welfare system we are committed to making it fairer for the taxpayer.”
Asked what ‘fairer’ for the taxpayer actually means, the spokesman said:
“It means reforming the system and supporting more people into work… it’s not a zero sum game when it comes to defence and welfare.”
Back in your box, Wes. 63,000 more people signed up to universal credit in a single month, according to the latest figures. Is anyone in Number 10 concerned about this? Or is placating useless backbenchers more important?
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”