[Abernathy]

I think we need more detail. Doubtless Liz Kendall is working on it now.

[The Weeping Angel]

I don't see how the sort of cuts being talked about now are consistent with reforming and improving.

Has anything new bern announced?

[The Weeping Angel]

I don't see how the sort of cuts being talked about now are consistent with reforming and improving.

Has anything new been announced?

[Tubby Isaacs]

We do, and if she was able to take her time, I think she could do a good job. But it seems clear that cuts are being made immediately.

[The Weeping Angel]

I don't see how the sort of cuts being talked about now are consistent with reforming and improving.

Has anything new been announced?

[Tubby Isaacs]

I don't see how the sort of cuts being talked about now are consistent with reforming and improving.

Has anything new bern announced?

This looks like a leak.

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-07/gov ... s-shake-up

£6bn is the saving by the end of the decade, I see. But then there's talk of big changes to PIP now, which sounds very dodgy.

[Tubby Isaacs]

I agree with this.

Louise Murphy, Senior Economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: "This package combines sensible reforms to incentivise and support people with poor health back towards work, with hugely controversial cuts to non-work-related disability benefits.

"Freezing PIP next year will result in a real-terms income loss for around four million people, 70 per cent of whom are in low-to-middle income households. The scale of eligibility restrictions required to save £5 billion will change who the Government considers to be disabled. It must tread very carefully on this."

[The Weeping Angel]

I don't see how the sort of cuts being talked about now are consistent with reforming and improving.

Has anything new bern announced?

This looks like a leak.

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-07/gov ... s-shake-up

£6bn is the saving by the end of the decade, I see. But then there's talk of big changes to PIP now, which sounds very dodgy.

Ah I've seen people say it's a trial balloon. If it was leaked who leaked it and why?

[Tubby Isaacs]

Assume somebody close to the government leaked it in that case. I think that would be bad because of the anxiety is causes.

[kreuzberger]

There are real challenges ahead for the neediest in their forced quest for employment, and who are unlikely to be the first-choice candidates for employers. Moreover, the long-covid cohort ain't going to be laying bricks any time soon. There are, however, reasonably round unemployed pegs for reasonably round holes, and the German approach is to fund these jobs to the tune of 50% for the first 12 months. That rises to two years for the over-50s.

That means no dole is paid and, with an average tax load of around 40% plus employers' contributions, much of what the state contributes is clawed back. The words "no" and "brainer" spring to mind.

In related but less comforting news, Germany is also shit-scared of taxing people who have more sprawling wealth than they know what to do with.

[Abernathy]

We do, and if she was able to take her time, I think she could do a good job. But it seems clear that cuts are being made immediately.

Well we’ll see what Rachel Reeves announces in the Comprehensive Spending Review in June, though there will be a statement before that, called the “spring forecast” due on 26 March. It will address the feedback from the Office of Budget Responsibility.

[The Weeping Angel]

I agree I don't like the way it's been handled. On blue sky Stephen Bush said this and employment rights were an example of the lack of direction at the heart of govt.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Wouldn't say there's a lack of direction. It's to promote employment, but at what might turn out to be to high a human cost.

[Tubby Isaacs]

We do, and if she was able to take her time, I think she could do a good job. But it seems clear that cuts are being made immediately.

Well we’ll see what Rachel Reeves announces in the Comprehensive Spending Review in June, though there will be a statement before that, called the “spring forecast” due on 26 March. It will address the feedback from the Office of Budget Responsibility.

Yep, this is the timetable, and with a green paper to come before the spring forecast.