The Scottish Conservatives have demanded Andy Burnham’s welfare secretary overrule Labour MPs who don’t want to reduce Britain’s “ballooning” benefits bill.
Social security spokesman Craig Hoy MSP says, reappointed Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden must “stop following the SNP’s playbook” of forcing people to pay sky-high taxes to fund soaring welfare payments.
Statistics last month revealed that the SNP’s benefit agency Social Security Scotland presided over a staggering 64% year-on-year increase in benefits payments.
John Swinney’s current policies mean Scotland’s benefits bill is set to hit close to £10 billion by 2030.
Hoy says McFadden must not bow to his Labour MP colleagues, who he says always ask in meetings who they can tax to fund other people’s benefits.
He added that hard-pressed Scots are being failed by two out-of-touch left-wing governments who are prioritising welfare over work.
Scottish Conservative finance and social security spokesman Craig Hoy said: “The top priority for Labour’s reappointed welfare secretary must be reining in the UK’s ballooning benefits bill.
“Pat McFadden must ensure his party stop following the SNP’s playbook on welfare. People across the UK are sick and tired of being forced to pay sky-high taxes to fund soaring welfare payments.
“We know from McFadden’s infamous text to Lord Mandelson that this attitude is ingrained among his colleagues in the Labour Party.
“Many of them including Scottish Labour MPs couldn’t even stomach small welfare reforms being put forward by Sir Keir Starmer last year.
“While there must always be a welfare safety net, this situation is completely unsustainable going forward. John Swinney’s benefits bill is set to hit £10billion by 2030 and Andy Burnham has inherited a similar ticking timebomb.
“Hard-pressed Scots are being failed by two out-of-touch left-wing governments who continue to prioritise welfare over work. It is only the Scottish Conservatives who are addressing this issue and who have a plan to ensure the welfare system is delivering value for taxpayers.”