# Labour’s Pat McFadden fails to say whether Britain’s benefits bill will come down by next election – as architect of NEETs plan admits it will take 10 years to make savings

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/labours-pat-mcfadden-fails-to-say-whether-britains-benefits-bill-will-come-down-by-next-election-as-architect-of-neets-plan-admits-it-will-take-10-years-to-make-savings/
- Published: 2026-11-15T10:49:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T11:03:29+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16294041/Labours-Pat-McFadden-fails-say-Britains-benefits-bill-come-election-architect-NEETs-plan-admits-10-years-make-savings.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Elections, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- McFadden made no election pledge to cut working-age benefits spending.
- Milburn says his youth employment plan may take 10 years to save money.
- The proposals would require billions in upfront investment.

## Summary

Pat McFadden declined to say whether Labour would reduce spending on working-age benefits by the next election, arguing that a long-term overhaul is the best way to lower the bill. The debate centres on tackling youth inactivity, with nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training.

Alan Milburn, who is due to publish recommendations on Tuesday, says his proposals could take 10 years to deliver savings and require billions of pounds in upfront investment. They include a legal guarantee of a job, training or employment support, allowing young people to keep more earnings before benefits are reduced, and removing under-25s from the main sickness and disability benefits. Milburn says £22 billion a year is spent on young people who are inactive and on benefits, and wants to shift spending towards opportunities and support.

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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.