Rachel Reeves to fast-track benefits crackdown and announce house building drive in growth drive

RACHEL Reeves is set to accelerate a tightening of rules on sickness benefits, stating: “We cannot continue to fund” for a jobless populace.

Ministers will now publish their long-awaited plan to slash billions from the disability benefits bill before the Spring Statement on March 26.

Three construction workers building a wooden house frame.
The Chancellor is set to announce that newts and nimbys will no longer be able to block new housebuildingCredit: Getty
Job Centre Plus sign in window.
Ministers are set to publish their long-awaited plan to slash billions from the disability benefits billCredit: Alamy

The Treasury is reportedly considering reducing benefits for individuals absent from work due to conditions such as stress and anxiety in order to motivate them to return to employment.

It comes as the Chancellor prepares to set out her plan to breathe new life into the flatlining economy with a big growth speech later this week.

Casting off her usual doom and gloom, she has vowed to unleash Britain’s “animal spirit” and bring more Trump-like positivity to the economy.

She will kick off by announcing that newts and nimbys will no longer be able to block new housebuilding as part of sweeping planning reforms.

Writing exclusively for The Sun on Sunday, Ms Reeves vows to slash “unnecessary regulation and red tape” and “turbocharge our economy”.

Promising to get tough on welfare, she says the Tories “lost complete control of the benefits bill” spending £8 billion more than they budgeted for.

She adds: “As a country, we cannot keep footing the bill for the spiralling numbers of people out of work.

“In the upcoming week, I will announce to the nation that in terms of our social security system, I am prepared to take action, similar to what we have done to improve the state of public finances. This will involve a thorough examination of the growing expenditures on health and disability benefits.

“This is an urgent problem. It can’t be ignored. We’ve got to grip it, once and for all. That’s why we’re setting out our detailed plans before Easter.”

Her intervention comes after we revealed the Treasury was frustrated with Welfare Minister Liz Kendall for dragging her feet over the reforms.

Big boost to benefits as payments set to rise £253 next year confirms Reeves

A staggering 2.8 million Brits are out of work on sickness benefits.

Britain spends nearly £65bn on incapacity and disability benefits – more than the entire defence budget.

Ministers think it is unfair that people actually looking for work get less on the dole than if they plead anxiety.

As Britain’s economy flatlines and high street giants like Sainsbury’s lay off thousands of staff, Ms Reeves is scrambling to boost business confidence by promising growth this week.

Behind the scenes, Labour MPs are desperate to see the Chancellor spell out an optimistic vision for how to help business.

As a country, we cannot keep footing the bill for the spiralling numbers of people out of work

Rachel Reeves

One said: “We need to do more Thatcher and steer the economy away from low wage low skill jobs to more productive ones.”

Another Labour MP said: “If it is a choice between hitting the 2030 eco targets and growth we must always choose growth.”

But one international millionaire fleeing Britain because of Budget tax hikes said it is already too late.

‘Worse off’

He said: “I have my bags packed and am ready to go on April 5. We are selling up.”

A high-flying City adviser contrasted Britain’s doom and gloom with Donald Trump’s pro growth policies.

He said: “Trump has done a lot more in four days than Starmer in seven months.”

Ms Reeves will this week promise to put growth first and unleash a building revolution.

She will signal her backing for expanding airports including Heathrow – despite opposition from some in Cabinet including Ed Miliband.

Builders will be given default approval to build new homes near train stations as long as the applications are appropriate.

Eco rules stopping big infrastructure projects will also be eased.

Currently, the discovery of animals like the Great Crested Newt often means important projects are delayed for years on end.

Old Trafford – the area around Manchester United’s football stadium – will also be redeveloped.

Ms Reeves said: “Too often the answer to new development has been ‘No’.

“But that is the attitude that has stunted economic growth and left working people worse off.”

Rachel Reeves at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Rachel Reeves will unveil the government’s plan to curb sickness benefits before the Spring Statement at the end of MarchCredit: HM TREASURY/UNPIXS
You May Also Like

David Beckham and his mother Sandra in the royal box at Wimbledon, joined by Rochelle and Marvin Humes, Eddie Redmayne, Sam Thompson, and Cliff on opening day

David Beckham led the stars who were out in force in London’s…

Tragedy Strikes as Cereal Factory Employee Becomes Trapped in Oven and Passes Away

An investigation is underway in Missouri after a factory employee was found…

Ohio Man Admits to Slapping Toddler on Surface to Silence Her Crying

An Ohio man has changed his plea this week regarding the death…

The beautiful Angolan journalist who left Trump without words in the Oval Office

Hariana Veras, an experienced journalist focusing on Africa, received praise from Donald…

Six individuals died in a frightening airplane accident where the jet caught fire shortly after taking off, as heard in a neighbor’s emergency call to 911.

A JET burst into flames just minutes after takeoff, killing all six…

Bryan Kohberger Reportedly Agrees to Plea Deal to Avoid Death Penalty

Prosecutors have offered a plea deal to Bryan Kohberger, the former criminology…

Wess Roley identified as suspect in Idaho shooting after starting fire to attract firefighters before fatally shooting two people

THE suspected arsonist and shooter who attacked and killed Idaho firefighters on…

Photo of Wess Roley taken after Idaho shooting that resulted in the deaths of two firefighters

The sniper who lured hundreds of firefighters into a deadly ambush last…

David Beckham Faces Fresh Heartache as Brooklyn Beckham Poses with In-Laws in Heartfelt Family Photos Honoring Nicola Peltz’s Beloved Father, Nelson

Brooklyn Beckham spent the weekend celebrating his father-in-law Nelson, posing in happy…

Labour urged to act decisively and protect children by potentially prohibiting extreme transgender beliefs in schools

Schools could finally be forced to stop teaching radical transgender ideology under…

Anna Wintour seen in public for the first time after major changes at Vogue and her absence at Bezos’s wedding, despite Lauren Sanchez being featured on the cover

Anna Wintour has been pictured for the first time since the bombshell news…

Officials Update on Idaho Sniper Who Killed 2 Firefighters and Injured Another

Two Idaho firefighters lost their lives from gunshot wounds, and another was…