Growing expense of health benefit risks bankrupting Britain

LABOUR appears to be stuffed full of MPs who lack a basic grasp of numbers.

- Duncan Barkes

Maybe they failed their Maths GCSE or simply do not understand the simple concept that if you continually spend more than you have, then you create a financial crisis. And as usual, it is the already-stretched taxpayer who pays the price due to a catastrophic mismanagement of the country's finances.

Last week’s rebellion by Labour MPs against their own Government over welfare reforms revealed some really do believe there is a magic money tree that can be shaken on demand. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall was right to try reducing the country’s benefits bill. But it backfired and pushed her Chancellor colleague to the brink when the planned savings were scaled down.

The reforms aimed to save £5billion overall — a mere drop in the ocean in the great scheme of things, because the figures involved are truly eye-watering. We currently spend £65billion a year on health and disability related benefits. The Office for Budget Responsibility says this will rise to just over £100billion a year by 2029/2030.

This is unsustainable and risks bankrupting the nation.