Chancellor John Healey has faced criticism over his first Budget, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accusing Labour of being "addicted to spending other people's money" and "addicted to welfare".
Speaking in the Commons, Badenoch said: "Just because it's called Universal Credit, doesn't mean that everyone in the universe should be on benefits."
She added: "The problem is that Labour are addicted to spending other people's money and addicted to welfare.
Badenoch's Attack on Labour's Welfare Record
"The welfare secretary said it himself – 'every meeting I have is Labour MPs asking who can we tax to pay for more benefits?'
"Since the last Budget, just 11 months ago, the equivalent of the entire city of York has signed on to disability benefits. And why wouldn't they, when sickness benefits pay more than the minimum wage?
"Jobs have been destroyed by Labour, and this Government has made it easier than ever to claim. It is honestly like their policies are designed to get people off work and on welfare."
Budget Criticism and Government Response
Badenoch also warned that the Budget was "not good enough, not strong enough, not bold enough".
The Conservative leader said: "Next year, under Labour, the tax burden will be the highest in our country's history, and our benefits bill is going up by tens of billions of pounds because this Government has put welfare first.
"We are overspent, overborrowed, overtaxed, and drowning in an out-of-control welfare system, and this is his answer.
"It is simply not enough, not good enough, not strong enough, not bold enough."
Welfare Reforms and Future Plans
In his Budget, Healey announced that reviews led by Alan Milburn on young people not in education, employment, or training and by Sir Stephen Timms on disability benefits will be published in November, with the Government responding by the end of the year.
He said: "When it comes to welfare, the last Conservative government left a broken system. A broken system which we are changing.
"But there is more to do. I refuse to write off a million young people, I refuse to see disabled people suffer the indignities of a system that has been found not fit for purpose, and I refuse to allow the burden of paying for this failing system to fall on taxpayers for decades to come.
"As the Prime Minister and I have both said we will bring down the welfare bill and we will do it in a Labour way."
Britain's benefits bill is set to reach £431.3billion by 2031-32, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
