Disability benefit cuts 'the wrong choice' - Burnham

The government has made "the wrong choice" by cutting disability benefits, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said.

Burnham, who served as health secretary and chief secretary to the treasury in previous Labour governments, told the BBC: "There is a case for reform but the package announced - when you look at the extent to which disability benefits are bearing the burden of the savings - it feels like the wrong choice."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out her plans for the UK economy during her Spring Statement on Wednesday, including changes to welfare.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said it wanted to help people into work after inheriting a social security system which was "broken".

Reeves told MPs "it can't be right" that some people were improperly using personal independence payments.

The government's changes to the welfare system are designed to save £5bn by 2030.

Reeves is targeting cuts to personal independence payments, carer's allowance, and universal credit.

Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester's In The Hotseat programme with Mike Sweeney, Burnham added: "When I look at what was announced yesterday, there will obviously be a group of people who can be more supported to work.

"But I struggle to believe there will be no detrimental impact that further makes the lives of disabled people harder.

"The system does need fundamental reform and we have a large amount of agreement with the government on that, but I don't think that reform would mitigate the potential impact of these cuts on all disabled people.

"I think it still risks causing some people significant harm."

The veteran Labour politician continued: "What the Greater Manchester Disabled People's Panel say to me is already there are many, many disabled people in Greater Manchester in punishing poverty as a result of the system".

When pressed if the government should be taxing the super-rich more, Burnham replied: "If you look at how British society, and the world, changed since the 1980s and 1990s, the gap between rich and poor is astronomical now.

"I do have sympathy for what's being said there. It's not about an old-fashioned 'tax the rich until the pips squeeze'.

"We over-tax people's work and we under-tax people's wealth. I am not sure the balance is right.

"It is difficult in government. It's not easy to balance the books and make things work but I do think we need to proceed with real caution on benefits cuts."

A DWP spokeswoman said the government would continue to "deliver a social security system for those with severe health conditions and protect the income of those who would never be able to work".

"Helping people into good work and financial independence is at the heart of our Plan For Change," she added.

"But the broken social security system we inherited is failing people who can and have the potential to work, as well as the people it's meant to be there for."

She said the government was delivering a £1bn support package to "guarantee tailored help into work to break down barriers for disabled people" and rebalancing Universal Credit payment levels "in a boost for low income working families".

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