# Kemi Badenoch says welfare bill is ‘crushing our economy’ as Tories pledge to slash £36 billion

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/kemi-badenoch-says-welfare-bill-is-crushing-our-economy-as-tories-pledge-to-slash-36-billion/
- Published: 2026-11-09T23:34:23+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T05:56:16+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/kemi-badenoch-tories-welfare-bill-b3081937.html
- Topics: Business, Economy, Europe, Politics, World

## Key points

- Conservatives propose £36 billion in annual welfare cuts.
- Disability payments and the two-child cap feature in the plans.
- Welfare spending is forecast to reach £431 billion by 2031-32.

## Summary

Kemi Badenoch says the welfare bill is “crushing our economy” as the Conservatives set out plans to cut annual welfare spending by £36 billion. The proposals target sickness and disability payments, support for some families and access to benefits for certain foreign nationals; the party argues the changes would encourage more people to work.

The Conservatives estimate that reforming sickness and disability allowances would save £13.7 billion, while restricting benefits for foreign nationals without EU settled status would save £9.5 billion. Reintroducing the two-child benefit cap is projected to save £3.1 billion, and replacing some cash payments for children with mild learning or behavioural difficulties with other support would save £2.8 billion. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts welfare spending will reach £431 billion by 2031-32; government reviews on disability benefits and young people not in education, employment or training are due to report soon.

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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.