WE'LL GET TOUGHER WITH WORK-SHY TO CUT TAXES, SAYS PM

RISHI Sunak will slash the ballooning benefits bill by "going further" to get more people back into work and reduce the tax burden.

- Michael Knowles

He wants to use the savings that will be made to ensure that all workers hang on to even more of their hard-earned cash.

The get-tough approach comes amid warnings that taxpayers will be forking out a staggering £360 billion on welfare by the end of the decade.

Rewarded

The Prime Minister insisted that "we must and will go further" to help more claimants back to employment.

Mr Sunak told the Daily Express: "I want a system that is fair, where hard work is rewarded by putting more of people's own money back in their pockets. That's why we're looking to control welfare spending as one way to make sustainable tax cuts and turbocharge growth.

"It's common sense that where people can work, they should.

"It's the right thing for them as well as the taxpayer. We kick-started our plans to encourage more working-age people into employment with reforms last autumn, but we must and will go further.”

A key to funding this pledge could be cutting the welfare bill, which is set to rise from £261.5 billion in 2022-23 to £360.1 billion in 2028-29, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The Prime Minister yesterday revealed he will squeeze benefits to fund further cuts in National Insurance – and he is expected to go further by developing plans to reduce working-age benefits.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said that she wanted to move from a “sick note” culture to one where a “fit note” would show what work each person is able to do.