The UK benefits system is broken. One third of benefits are not paid and by far the biggest recipients of state aid are the wealthiest people in the country

17th March 2025

The benefits system needs repairing but there are plenty of tax reliefs for the better off that could be changed to make for more a balanced society. Tax reliefs on pension contributions are way to generous and do not benefit people who are unlikely to be in receipt of big pensions. What is likely to be coming from the chancellor may not hit the wealthy but seems to be aimed at the poorer elements in our communities.

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to slash spending on Britain's "broken" and "indefensible" health-related welfare system, which is costing the government £65bn a year and is on track to hit £100bn by 2030.

As on so much else, Starmer is wrong. Let me offer four reasons why.

First, he is ignoring the cost of Covid and ultra-processed food poisoning, which are the primary causes of the increase in costs. What is indefensible is his refusal to tackle the causes of these issues. It is the government that is broken in that case, not the benefits system.

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