Slash benefits to get more men into work, IMF urges
The TelegraphBritain and other rich nations have been urged by the International Monetary Fund to cut benefits and taxes to tackle the worklessness crisis. Mel Stride vowed to “do whatever it takes to get Britain working” as the IMF said men in particular would be encouraged to find jobs if countries lowered taxes and benefits. The IMF research, which was based on analysis of 38 OECD industrialised economies, including the UK, US and Germany, recommended that higher pension ages would also keep people in work for longer. Mr Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said “the most radical welfare reforms in a decade” would help end the scourge of worklessness holding the country back. He told The Telegraph: “While our inactivity rate is lower than many economic heavy weights including the USA, France and Italy, our tax cuts and welfare reforms will grow the labour force by 300,000 people – growing the economy and changing lives.” It comes amid fears Britain is being held back by the 9.25 million adults of working age who are economically inactive – neither in work nor looking for work.
History of this topic
A £5billion cut to benefits barely scratches the surface - it's a sticking plaster at best: JASON GROVES on Liz Kendall's plan to trim Britain's spiralling welfare budget
Daily Mail
Labour U-turn on £5bn benefits crackdown as Keir Starmer and Liz Kendall 'prepare to backtrack on cutting disabled people's payments'
Daily Mail
Benefits cuts 'delayed to next week' as Labour MPs revolt over 'rerun of austerity' - despite Keir Starmer warning the system is 'indefensible'
Daily Mail
Starmer declares Britain ‘simply isn’t working’ and unveils plan to slash benefits bill
The Independent
Labour is accused of putting off urgently needed reforms to cure sicknote Britain and get two million people into jobs
Daily Mail
Sick note Britain! Business chiefs urge Labour to end UK's worklessness crisis - as ministers set to unveil radical welfare reforms to get Brits back into work
Daily Mail
Labour adviser says long-term sick should be forced into work
The Independent
Labour's war on 'sick note Britain'! Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall pledges to get two million more people into work - but ditches tough plans to tackle welfare 'scroungers'
Daily Mail
‘Hidden army of talent’ among Britons on benefits could plug labour market gaps
The Independent
Sunak to cut benefits for long-term sick unless they seek to work from home
The Independent
Unemployed who refuse to job-hunt will be stripped of benefits perks
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