Michael Marra says Scotland’s rising benefits bill must be brought down
New Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra says Scotland’s benefits spending is on an unsustainable path and should be reduced by helping more people into work. He backed Chancellor John Healey’s call to increase employment among young people, describing it as a government’s moral duty, and said he would not guarantee protection of the state pension triple lock beyond the next general election.
Spending on 15 benefits devolved to the Scottish Government is forecast to rise from £6.76 billion last year to £9.23 billion in 2030–31. Marra also said he favours closer UK ties with the EU but sees rejoining as unlikely for at least 25 years, citing political changes in Europe. He said he would disagree with Prime Minister Andy Burnham when Scotland’s interests required it, and described Scottish Labour’s previous focus on the central belt and Anas Sarwar’s profile as the wrong strategy.
- Marra says Scotland’s benefits bill must fall through higher employment.
- Devolved benefits spending is forecast to reach £9.23 billion by 2030–31.
- He sees EU rejoining as a distant prospect, perhaps 25 years away.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “New Scottish Labour leader admits country’s bloated benefits bill is ‘unsustainable’ and calls for it to be cut”.