New work and pensions secretary pledges ‘no further cuts’ to welfare

Stephen Crabb
Stephen Crabb

New work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb has said there will be no further planned cuts to welfare after the UK government abandoned its changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

In his first speech since replacing Iain Duncan Smith, who resigned over the latest cuts to welfare, Crabb said ministers will not target other benefits to make up the £4 billion black hole created by the U-turn over disability benefits.

The new work and pensions secretary confirmed the changes to Personal Independence Payments had been cancelled and told MPs: “After discussing this issue over the weekend with the prime minister and the chancellor we have no further plans to make welfare savings beyond the very substantial savings legislated for by Parliament two weeks ago.”

Crabb also revealed that the government would review the level of its welfare cap in the Autumn Statement. But he added that “it is right that we monitor welfare spending carefully”, arguing that the principle of having “discipline” through a cap was right.

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