Victoria Derbyshire Confronts Wes Streeting Over Labours Welfare Plan

Victoria Derbyshire accused Labour of implementing a “two-tier” benefits system as she confronted Wes Streeting over the plans.

Keir Starmer was forced to make major changes to his government’s blueprint for slashing billions from the welfare budget following a backbench rebellion.

Under the new plan, current recipients of personal independence payments (PIP) and universal credit will continue to get the same amount of money.

However, those who claim in the future will receive less.

On the BBC this morning, presenter Derbyshire read out the views of one viewer, called Matt.

She said: “The big concern from a lot of people, including Matt, one of our viewers, is that you are creating a two-tier system.

“He says ‘I still don’t understand the logic of applying cuts to future applicants. Is that just so there are fewer people who are directly affected to protest the cuts?’. How is it fair that there’s a two-tier system?”

Streeting, the health secretary, replied: “You can say that about a number of other systems.”

But Derbyshire interrupted to tell him: “I’m asking about this.”

Streeting snapped back: “Yeah well I’m answering the question, which is when things change and evolve, as you bring in new systems, it does change sometimes from group to group, student finance being an example.”

Derbyshire then asked: “My question is how is that fair?”

Streeting said the government needed to make sure the welfare system is “sustainable”.

He said: “Even before the changes were made this week, the cost of the welfare bill is growing enormously. There’s a real risk to it, both in terms of financial sustainability and democratic support and legitimacy.”