Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to an IFS report which found welfare spending hasn’t fallen because of weak wage growth and problems with major reforms, said:

“For all David Cameron’s claims to cut welfare, this new research reveals that benefit spending will be no lower next year than it was when David Cameron took office –despite measures such as the cruel and unfair Bedroom Tax. The IFS confirms that you can’t control welfare spending without tackling its root causes in low pay and rising rents.

“Only Labour has a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and low pay as part of our tough but balanced plan to get the deficit down, control welfare spending and earn our way to higher living standards for all, not just a few at the top. A Labour government will raise the National Minimum Wage to £8 an hour, bring in Make Work Pay contracts to ensure more people are paid a Living Wage, get more homes built and extend free childcare provision and will get the next generation into work with a Compulsory Jobs Guarantee.”

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