Benn defends Labour benefit cuts: Northern Ireland secretary of state says 'unsustainable' system needs reform
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has defended the government’s looming benefit cuts, stating reforms to the welfare system “have to be done”.
Political parties in the region were highly critical of cuts to welfare in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spring statement this week.
That included DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP, who has accused the government of targeting vulnerable people.
“First it was pensioners and their winter fuel allowance,” he said. “Then it was WASPI women and broken promises, now it is the sick and the vulnerable.
“We believe in protecting the taxpayer, but protecting those who need our support the most.”
Speaking in Londonderry today, Mr Benn said the current welfare system is “unsustainable”.
He added: “It doesn’t work to help people who can get back into work. That should be an objective that all of us share.
“The government has been very clear that those who can’t work at the moment and will never be able to work will be protected.”
Stating that one in eight young people aren’t in education, work or training, he said: “We can’t sit here and shrug our shoulders and say that is the way it is, we have got to do something about it.
“We are going to redirect some of those resources into helping people who can get back into work to make it easier.
“People will debate it but it is something that has to be done because most people I have spoken to recognise the current system doesn’t work and is simply unsustainable.”
Sinn Fein has accused the government of prioritising “weapons over welfare” after it also announced increases in defence spending – but Mr Benn rejected that criticism.
“The first priority, the first responsibility of any government is to protect the nation,” he said.
“We are living in a more dangerous and uncertain world; in those circumstances it is right and proper for the government to increase defence expenditure.
“That is what we have done, we have taken the difficult decision over how to fund that.
“Some of that investment has come to Thales in Belfast, it is going to create an additional 200 jobs.”
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the Thales factory in East Belfast is to supply 5,000 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth up to £1.6bn.