BBC Newsnight presenter Victoria Derbyshire confronted Labour minister James Murray over the government's welfare reform timetable, refusing to let the financial secretary to the Treasury avoid questions about delays.
Murray appeared on the programme to discuss Chancellor John Healey's Autumn Budget, but Derbyshire immediately challenged the pace of reform, saying: "You've been in power for over two years, the Milburn Review is next month, then the government will spend time responding to it, then there'll be a consultation on White Paper next year where you'll set out your plans, people will respond to that. You might argue about it."
Minister's Response Interrupted
Murray attempted to explain his approach, saying: "If I may, what is important for me is to make sure that when we talk about getting the welfare bill down, we don't do it through crude cuts, which can often lead to costs popping up somewhere else in the system."
He added: "We do it through structural change, so through shifting away from cash payments towards the kind of support that helps get young people into work."
Derbyshire cut him off, stating: "I'm not actually talking about the measures. I'm talking about the time. You keep saying it's urgent, it's a moral mission, but you're kicking stuff down the road!"
Exchange Over Government Timeline
Murray responded: "I don't agree with that. The prime minister came into office 100 days ago-" but Derbyshire interjected: "Sorry, your government has been in power since July 2024."
Stumbling over his words, Murray replied: "Yes, and, and, and work on this has been going on, but the point I'm making is that the prime minister, Andy Burnham, one of his top priorities is getting young people into work."
He added: "He's said to Alan Milburn how important it is to get that out after the Budget and get it legislated for, because we know that getting young people into work is critical to getting the welfare bill down but it's also critical to those young people's chances in life."
