Byrne: Welfare reform won’t work without jobs

Liam Byrne MP, shadow work and pensions secretary, said in response to the publication of the welfare bill:

“We’ll support the government where it builds on our big reforms to sort out sickness benefits and get people who can work into work. But welfare to work won’t work without jobs. We need a plan B for the economy because yesterday’s figures showed the private sector isn’t creating jobs fast enough to pick up public sector job cuts.

“Crucially, we don’t want more broken promises. We were promised the Tory-led government’s work programme would be the biggest boldest plan ever. Now we learn it’s far smaller than the action Labour put in place. My message is simple – don’t promise what you can’t deliver. Stop talking and start acting before unemployment gets any higher.

“We’ll look at the welfare reform bill carefully. We’ll support the government where we can. But we’re worried about news that those with savings will have benefits taken away, that up to two million people will face higher deduction rates and that there are still big unknowns like how to finance people’s childcare.”