Starmer Risks Row Over Back-to-Work Plan as Firms Warn of Cuts
- UK premier wants to tackle inactivity to reduce welfare bill
- CBI says half of British companies to cut jobs after tax rises
This article is for subscribers only.
Keir Starmer risks another battle over his Labour government’s controversial first budget, as the UK prime minister sets out his plan to reduce welfare spending by getting more people into work — at the same time as companies are warning of job cuts due to higher taxes.
The government will publish its “Get Britain Working” white paper on Tuesday, a strategy Starmer said would help lower the £137 billion ($172 billion) benefits bill by tackling economic inactivity. Measures to be announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall include more support for job seekers and the removal of welfare payments from people who refuse education or training.