South Shields MP calls for no ‘crude cuts’ when reducing welfare spending
The South Shields MP has stated that you can’t cut the welfare bill by “punishing people”.
The MP for South Shields has said that the country’s welfare spending cannot be curbed by “making crude cuts and punishing people”.
Emma Lewell made the comments during an interview on BBC Politics, where she was asked if Prime Minister Andy Burnham should be looking to cut the welfare bill.
It comes ahead of this week’s Labour Party conference where political opponents have called on the PM to make an announcement to bring down welfare spending.
Ms Lewell admitted that welfare spending is “too large” but stated that the only way to solve it was to get long-term unemployed people back into “good, well-paid work”.
The South Shields MP said: “The welfare bill is too large but I don’t think you cut it by making crude cuts and punishing people.
“If you look at the amount of people who are seeking work and then the amount of jobs available, there is about a million shortfall.
“So what you shouldn’t be doing is what the Tories would do, which was punish those people for not getting jobs when there are no jobs available for them.
“That’s not the way to do it.
“The Prime Minister has said he doesn’t favour that crude cuts option.
“That is why we’ve invested money to give to every employer who takes on a young person who is long-term unemployed - they will get £3,000 from this government as an incentive.
“We’re investing in things to help the long-term sick and disabled get back into work - that’s how you solve this.
“You solve it by getting people into good, well-paid work.
“You do not solve it by punishing them for things that really, is not their fault.”