Reform UK has pledged to deliver the “biggest cuts to the benefits bill ever seen”, raising fresh questions over what a Nigel Farage-led government could mean for millions of claimants. The party has focused on reducing welfare spending, tightening eligibility rules and overhauling disability benefits, arguing the current system is too costly and discourages work.
There are currently over 24 million people claiming some combination of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, including pensioners, those on health-related support and in-work claimants. As youth unemployment rises, some companies are turning away from universities to find new recruits.
Bruce Devlin, 26, who cared for his mother from age 10, secured a job through an unconventional route. He said: “Getting a full-time salary and being a contributing member of society is an amazing achievement. Without this, I’d be just another person on jobseeker’s allowance, wasting any potential I had.”
Jessica Andrea Carvalho rejected a university offer to avoid debt and classroom learning. Paula Cunnington, chief talent officer for Publicis Groupe UK, which has hired 79 apprentices, said: “Creating more routes in is not just about opportunity – it helps bring in talent with different experiences.”
