# Burnham dismisses ‘brutal cuts’ to welfare after Chancellor’s humiliating U-turn on whether surging costs will come down before election

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/burnham-dismisses-brutal-cuts-to-welfare-after-chancellors-humiliating-u-turn-on-whether-surging-costs-will-come-down-before-election/
- Published: 2026-10-30T08:16:19+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T08:49:01+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16251647/Burnham-brutal-cuts-welfare-Chancellor-benefits-Budget-election.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Business, Elections, Markets, Politics, World

## Key points

- Ministers sent mixed messages about when welfare spending will fall.
- Burnham argued against abrupt cuts that could push people into crisis.
- Welfare spending is forecast to top £350 billion next year.

## Summary

The Government has given conflicting signals about whether it will reduce welfare spending before the next general election. Andy Burnham rejected “brutal cuts”, arguing that abrupt reductions could leave people in crisis and increase pressure on other public services, while saying he wanted to help more people into work.

After the Budget, Chancellor John Healey appeared to say there would be a reduction in the benefits bill before the election, then later said it was not correct to promise the bill would fall during this Parliament. Downing Street said there was no fixed timetable, while Wes Streeting said cuts before the election had not been ruled out. The bill is forecast to exceed £350 billion next year and rise by more than £60 billion by 2029; Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Labour for failing to set out a clear plan.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.