21-05-2025
Benefits reform is like fight for women's equality, says Liz Kendall
The work and pensions secretary has told Labour rebels she will press ahead with contentious benefit cuts, likening her reforms to get the long-term sick back to work to the battle for women's equality.
Liz Kendall said she was 'listening' to concerns raised by backbenchers, hinting she was open to concessions on the implementation of reforms. But she refused to back down on the principle of cost-cutting, saying Britain could not afford a system where one in ten working age adults is on at least one sickness benefits and spending is still rising.
Kendall argued there was 'nothing Labour' about ducking what she described as an economic and social crisis, pointing out that sickness benefit spending has risen by £20 billion a year since the
