John Healey has vowed that getting Britain’s welfare bill under control is a “moral duty” and warned that the government does not enjoy the same economically advantageous position enjoyed by New Labour.
The chancellor told delegates at Labour conference that there is “nothing progressive” in allowing larger benefits payments “which offers an income but doesn’t offer a future.”
Mr Healey said: “Our social security system must always be there for those who can never work. But for everyone else, benefits should be a bridge to work, to wider participation, to a better life, not a trap that people can’t escape.”
He added he went on to announce a £100m boost to the local apprenticeship services to get Britain’s Neets into employment.
Mr Healey said: “I refuse to write off a million young people like the Tories have done.”
However, he underlined the tough challenges the country faces in the upcoming Budget by making clear that the funds “New Labour had in the ’90s is simply not there now.”
Watch: Healey needs to cut welfare. But he’s learnt from Starmer’s failures
Miliband 'not pitching for associate membership' of EU
Ed Miliband said he was not looking to follow Canada and pitch for “associate membership” of the EU, telling the Labour conference the UK’s future lay in a deeper relationship with the bloc.
The foreign secretary said: “I was at the EU informal foreign ministers’ meeting in Ireland at the beginning of September and round the table you had the foreign ministers meeting of Ukraine, Canada, Iceland that had just voted narrowly not to begin accession talks, and the UK and indeed Norway.
“And I think we remarked around the table that there was a sort of wider grouping.
“I think it does go to the (Mark) Carney agenda, by the way, which is countries working together, united by values, by alliances, on a whole range of issues.
“So, I’m certainly not pitching for associate membership, but I think there are ways that we can work together.”
Watch: UK’s future lies in deeper partnership with EU, Miliband says
Exclusive: Residents living near RAF Fairford ‘told attack was imminent day before bomb plot’
Residents living near RAF Fairford say they were told to stay indoors hours before police received a call about an alleged foiled bomb plot – with one claiming they were told an attack was about to happen.
The Independent has seen message from a WhatsApp residents’ group chat showing that, shortly before 6pm on Saturday, one resident claimed to be told by armed officers that there was intelligence over an “imminent” attack. Another said they were told to make their way home and stay indoors.
Five British nationals in their 20s were arrested on Sunday, initially on suspicion of explosives offences and later terrorism, after an incident near the military airbase in Gloucestershire, which is used by US bombers. Counter-terrorism officers are understood to be investigating whether Iran is linked to the suspected terror plot.
Analysis: Healey needs to cut welfare. But he’s learnt from Starmer’s failures
The chancellor used his Labour conference speech to retable Rachel Reeves’ welfare cuts – but in an authentic Labour way, political editor David Maddox writes:
RAF Fairford: Miliband declines to say if suspects were under surveillance
Ed Miliband declined to say whether Donald Trump’s claim that the suspects arrested near RAF Fairford had been under surveillance.
The foreign secretary told a meeting on the fringe of the Labour Party conference: “You will understand there is an ongoing investigation and a limit to what I can say.
“What I will say is, as I said in my conference speech, I think this emphasises the vigilance we need against the threats that our country faces, including on British soil.
“I think that the counter-terrorism police, the intelligence services, the police themselves have done a really important job in arresting the suspects.
“Beyond that, sorry to be disappointing, I’m not going to say anymore because it’s a live investigation.”
Politics Explained: Why high diesel prices are giving chancellor John Healey a new headache
We are in serious trouble if the cost of a fuel that underpins much of our economy keeps soaring, says Chris Blackhurst
Watch: Healey brands Farage as ‘Liz Truss with a Bitcoin account’
Leaked note shows delegates instructed to clap for Healey's welfare comments
A leaked note posted by the i paper’s chief political correspondent Kitty Donaldson shows the rapturous applause received by chancellor John Healey might not have been entirely organic...
Pictured: Healy and Burnham are all smiles at Labour conference
