Healey pledges to reduce benefits bill before next election

John Healey has pledged to reduce the UK benefits bill before the next general election, while ruling out crude cuts and promising to set out reforms by the end of the year. The commitment followed criticism that his first Budget did not explain how the government would curb welfare spending. Healey said the system was unsustainable and that a reduction would be achieved in a Labour way. His pledge remains an intention rather than an enacted policy: the government is awaiting two reviews before detailing its proposals. Healey said both would be published in November, with a government response expected by year-end and legislation next year. One review, co-chaired by minister Sir Stephen Timms, concerns disability benefits. The other, led by former minister Alan Milburn, examines young people not in education, employment or training. Healey said helping young people into work could contribute to reducing the bill over the longer term. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast total welfare spending would rise from £353 billion this year to £431 billion in 2031-32, driven mainly by health-related and pensioner benefits. Those figures are projections, not realized spending....