A recent poll suggests Labour Party members hold a more stringent view on welfare spending than commonly assumed, providing support for Labour leader Andy Burnham’s commitment to reform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Mr Burnham, the Makerfield MP, has vowed to “get serious” about revising welfare policies during his premiership. This resolve aligns with findings from a survey conducted between late June and late July, which gathered responses from 788 Labour members.
The data reveals that welfare benefits rank low among members’ priority issues, with only 7% considering it a top concern. Moreover, 47% believe the party currently allocates too much to the benefits bill, while 21% think the spending is insufficient.
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Christabel Cooper, interim director of political strategy at ThinkLabour, commented: “Labour members have a tougher view on welfare than you might think. They recognise that managing welfare effectively is critical if Labour is to secure a second term. They also appreciate the necessity of strong defence policies in uncertain times. Understanding members’ actual opinions, rather than relying on assumptions, is essential.”
Mr Burnham has emphasised his approach to reducing the social security bill by addressing root causes such as employment, health, and housing issues, rather than implementing direct cuts. Support for this strategy is echoed in research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Trussell Trust in partnership with More in Common, which found high public concern about the social security system but limited endorsement for blunt spending reductions.
In the survey, 59% of respondents favoured tackling the underlying reasons people need to claim benefits to reduce social security costs, compared with 20% who supported tightening eligibility criteria and 8% who advocated cutting benefit rates.
Reflecting on his stance, Mr Burnham told Andrew Marr, “I’m not going to go with the crude cuts to benefit levels that then just put people who are struggling in even worse poverty.”