Badenoch warns costly concessions could fuel demands on public money

Kemi Badenoch argues that the Government is making costly concessions to satisfy political demands, rather than setting limits and making difficult choices. She links Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s comments on slavery reparations to a domestic immigration policy change, saying both could lead to further demands on public money.

Badenoch says Burnham will not pay reparations but opposes another apology, noting Tony Blair expressed regret in 2006 and apologised in 2007. She criticises Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plan to tighten settlement rules being softened to exempt care workers already in Britain; her article cites a departmental estimate that allowing 350,000 workers and dependants could cost £10 billion. She also points to welfare spending, business taxes and defence funding as competing pressures.