Osborne lists Tory Brexiteers who ‘stopped him cutting welfare’ in warning to Badenoch
George Osborne says Kemi Badenoch should expect resistance to her plans to cut welfare from within the Conservative Party, based on his experience as chancellor. He argues that Tory figures, rather than Labour or the left, obstructed his efforts, and that internal opposition could make welfare reform difficult if the Conservatives return to government.
Osborne named Boris Johnson, Iain Duncan Smith and Nigel Lawson as opponents of past measures to curb benefits; he also criticised welfare spending rises under Johnson and Rishi Sunak’s governments. Badenoch has proposed saving £36 billion a year through measures including changes to housing and sickness benefits, restoring the two-child limit and ending some benefits for non-UK nationals. The Conservatives say candidates at the next election have signed up to support her plans.
In short
- Osborne warns Badenoch that Tory resistance could hinder welfare cuts.
- He cited past opposition from Johnson, Duncan Smith and Lawson.
- Badenoch’s proposals aim to save £36bn a year.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Osborne’s experience suggests that welfare cuts can face substantial resistance within a governing party, especially when they affect people seen as vulnerable or impose costs on families and communities. Badenoch may therefore need to build support among Conservative MPs and voters, and show that proposed savings are achievable without undue hardship or unintended consequences.
The case against
Conservative advocates of Badenoch’s plans could argue that controlling welfare spending is necessary to make public finances sustainable and ensure support is focused on those most in need. They may also contend that party candidates’ stated backing gives her a basis to pursue reform, and that objections from some senior figures should not prevent elected leaders from acting on their programme.
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