The Conservative Party has announced plans to save £25bn annually by reviewing mental health benefits, as part of a broader £47bn public spending cut. Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride outlined the proposals at the party conference, including a £23bn reduction in welfare spending.
Under the plan, overseas nationals, including those with indefinite leave to remain, would be denied benefits unless they are pensions or EU settled status. Stride suggested that affected individuals could return to their home countries. He argued that UK citizenship should mean something in the benefits system.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately claimed that many people use sickness benefits as a 'lifestyle choice', citing TikTok videos and VIP services for claims. She pledged a crackdown on what she described as millions getting benefits for anxiety and ADHD with a free motability car.
Additional savings include £8bn from cutting 130,000 civil service jobs and £7bn from reducing overseas aid to 0.1% of GDP. The Conservatives also aim to axe 'costly and ineffective green subsidies'. Stride insisted the party is the only one with a sensible fiscal plan, warning the country is 'living beyond its means'.
