Maggie Throup OBE, prospective Member of Parliament for Erewash has welcomed the Conservatives’ clear plan to deliver £12 billion of savings from the welfare system, getting more people into work across Erewash.
Since the pandemic, the number of people inactive for health reasons has increased by 40 per cent from 2 million to 2.8 million, and the number of working age people claiming benefits is projected to grow at an unsustainable rate.
People are now three times more likely to be assessed as not fit for any work than they were a decade ago, suggesting the system is not functioning as designed and needs updating. Over half of those being signed off have a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression.
Maggie said:
“The Conservatives’ bold action has made huge progress to reform our welfare system, but we must go further to better support claimants across Erewash whilst being fair to the taxpayer.
Our clear plan will dramatically expand mental health support and deliver on our fraud clampdown measures that are forecast to save £7.7 billion, saving taxpayers money whilst improving support for those in need.
Only Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives will take the bold action needed to make welfare fair for taxpayers. Labour’s soft touch will drive up taxes, taking us back to square one.”
Meanwhile, spending on benefits for people of working age with a disability or health condition is projected to increase from £69 billion to £90 billion by the end of the Parliament.
The Conservatives will reform the welfare system to make it fairer and more sustainable. The Conservatives will bring the numbers of working age people claiming benefits for a health condition or disability under control and take action across the welfare system to make sure that being on benefits is a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.
With fewer people moving onto welfare and more people fulfilling their potential, the Conservatives will save taxpayers £12 billion a year by the end of the next Parliament.