RACHEL Reeves has vowed to use Labour’s monster majority to pass welfare reforms as she declared the spend on benefits “morally indefensible and economically damaging”.
Labour rebels are plotting to vote against plans to cut £5 billion from Britain’s sickness tab – which is forecast to hit a massive £100 billion by 2029.
But the Iron Chancellor said Labour has “changed” and will not sit back while Brits “get parked on benefits”.
She told The Sun on Sunday: “We have got a big majority, I am confident we will get this through Parliament.”
In a swipe at rebel ringleader John McDonnell – who had the Labour whip withdrawn after rebelling on another benefits vote – she added: “John McDonnell isn’t even a Labour MP.”
She said “there has been a lot of change in the Labour Party” since Mr McDonnell was Shadow Chancellor and “that’s why we are in government.”
“I think the country can see – everyone can see – the current system isn’t working. The status quo is just not an option, Ms Reeves added.
Politicians will get a vote on the reforms, which tighten access to sickness and PIP benefits so money goes to the neediest.
Diane Abbott has led Labour MPs in slamming the welfare cuts.
But Sir Keir Starmer has a huge majority of 158 MPs, which means the chance of them being defeated are vanishingly small.
Vowing to grasp the nettle of welfare reform, Ms Reeves said: “We need to get the system under control.
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“You do that by getting people back to work and giving them the support that they need.
“I’m not happy with a bill that’s just rising and rising, and it’s not happening in other countries.
“I’m absolutely determined to be the Chancellor that gives the support to people to get them back into work, and contributing.”
She added: “One in 10 people on sickness benefits, one in eight young people not in education, employment or training. It is morally indefensible, and it is economically damaging.”
Cabinet ministers Angela Rayner, Ed Miliband and Lucy Powell are said to have privately voiced concerns about the cuts – although none have publicly spoken out.
At this week’s Cabinet meeting, ministers were given a ticking off for leaking the comments.
Ms Powell said “I’ll never speak frankly in Cabinet again”, The Sun on Sunday has been told.
A source said the PM is “genuinely annoyed” at the leaks.
