Conservatives propose welfare restrictions on alcohol and cigarettes

Summarised from 8 outlets · 15 reports · Updated 25 Sept, 18:43 · Archive

The Conservative Party has announced plans to restrict how long-term unemployed benefit claimants can spend welfare payments.

The Conservative Party, led by Kemi Badenoch, has unveiled proposals to restrict long-term jobless benefits claimants from spending welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. Payments would be made via a prepaid card enforcing these restrictions. The party also plans to cut Universal Credit by around a third for those who have not made consistent contributions to the system, with remaining payments at a 'subsistence level'. Badenoch argues the welfare system should be a safety net rather than a lifestyle choice. Labour's Lucy Powell has countered that benefit recipients spend money on essentials like rent and bills, whilst other critics have questioned the workability of the policy.

How it is being reported

• Question Time panel clash over welfare policyThe Conservatives have promised to prevent long-term jobless benefit claimants from spending their welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling.BBC Politics · 25 Sept, 16:18
• Plans are under way to finally help Britain’s unemployed young people – will Labour pull it off? | Polly ToynbeeAlan Milburn is preparing to implement his report to bring young people back into work. Let’s hope the government will see it through As certainly as the moon pulls on the tides, Labour governments improve the lives of the poorest children. Just as surely, Conservative governments pull back and reverse the good done. Here we go again: despite the social devastation caused by George Osborne’s cuts last time, Kemi Badenoch announces that she wants to impose cuts to universal credit for the poorest if she gets the chance. She doesn’t do subtle, none of Iain Duncan Smith’s cruel-to-be-kind…The Guardian · 25 Sept, 08:00
• 'You Just Don't Like Poor People': Senior Tory Monstered Over Plan To Slash BenefitsJonathan Reynolds challenged Helen Whately on Question Time. A senior Tory was told “you don’t like poor people” as she was monstered over her party’s plans to slash welfare. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the long-term unemployed who haven’t contributed enough tax into the system will see their Universal Credit payments cut by nearly a third if she becomes prime minister. The new “subsistence level” benefit they do receive would be loaded onto a pre-payment card, which would ban spending on cigarettes, alcohol and betting. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately defended…HuffPost UK · 25 Sept, 07:37
• Jobless don't use benefits for gambling and booze, claims Labour's Lucy PowellEducation Secretary Lucy Powell claimed welfare recipients spend their 'very little' money on rent and paying household bills rather than luxuries.Daily Mail · 25 Sept, 00:47
• BBC's Nick Robinson scolded by shadow minister over benefits claimants' spending - 'It's TAXPAYER cash!'The BBC's Nick Robinson was scolded by the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary this afternoon over criticism of a fresh Conservative pledge to restrict benefits claimants from splurging on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. Kemi Badenoch earlier unveiled plans to cut payments to long-term unemployed people by around a third, with cash payments replaced by prepaid “back-to-work cards” blocked from spending on illicit items. The Tory leader said the welfare system should act as a safety net rather than become a long-term alternative to employment, and argued that people who are able to work…GB News · 24 Sept, 17:55
• 'It's not their money, it's taxpayer money!': Kemi Badenoch defends 'tough love' Tory plan to block welfare claimants from spending benefits cash on booze and fagsThe Tory leader has unveiled proposals for Universal Credit payments to be slashed for those who have not made consistent contributions to the welfare system.Daily Mail · 24 Sept, 10:36
• Kemi Badenoch doubles down on 'common sense' benefits crackdown in GB News grilling: 'It's taxpayer money!'Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has doubled down on her plans to crack down on benefits payments in a fiery GB News grilling. Speaking to Breakfast hosts Ellie Costello and Mark White, Mrs Badenoch argued that the policy is "common sense" and "tough love" for young Britons. Mrs Badenoch has set out plans to block long-term jobless benefits claimants from spending their welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. Britain's long-term unemployed could see their benefits slashed by a third under a Conservative Government. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Challenged on the policy, Mrs…GB News · 24 Sept, 10:24
• Kemi Badenoch's 'sticking plaster' welfare crackdown torn apart by Richard Tice: 'A drop in the ocean!'Kemi Badenoch's newly announced benefits crackdown has received a scathing assessment from Richard Tice. Speaking to GB News, the Deputy Leader of Reform UK declared the move a "modest Lib Dem-style sticking plaster" on an issue which "they created in the first place". Under the new plans from the Tory leader, long-term jobless benefits claimants could be banned from spending their welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. Mrs Badenoch says the changes would also see Universal Credit payments slashed for those who haven't made consistent contributions to the system, calling it…GB News · 24 Sept, 08:01
• Kemi Badenoch Slammed Over 'Unworkable' Bid To Slash Welfare BillKemi Badenoch said Kemi Badenoch has been condemned over an “unworkable” Tory plan to slash the benefits bill. The Conservative leader said the long-term unemployed who haven’t contributed enough tax into the system will see their Universal Credit payments cut by nearly a third if she becomes prime minister. The new “subsistence level” benefit they do receive would be loaded onto a pre-payment card, which would ban spending on cigarettes, alcohol and betting. Badenoch said the policy was aimed at cracking down on those who see being on benefits as “a lifestyle choice” and would encourage…HuffPost UK · 24 Sept, 06:24
• Long-term benefits claimants could be banned from buying alcohol and cigarettes under Tory plansSky News · 24 Sept, 02:27
• DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Preventing professional scroungers from spending their benefits on booze and cigarettes - why Kemi's welfare plans put Labour to shame...Andy Burnham's refusal to grasp the welfare nettle looks even more shameful in light of the Conservatives' roadmap for pushing the work-shy towards the world of employmentDaily Mail · 24 Sept, 00:59
• The Morning Poll: Should Universal Credit claimants be banned from spending the benefit on gambling, booze or cigarettes?Should claimants be stopped from spending the means-tested welfare payment on habits like gambling, smoking and drinking? Have your say in the Morning Mail poll.Daily Mail · 24 Sept, 00:17
• Tory welfare crackdown would ban benefit spending on alcohol and cigarettesScores of benefit claimants would receive their welfare payments on a ‘Back To Work’ card that bans spending on alcohol, cigarettes or betting under plans announced by the Conservatives. Under a new crackdown on the welfare system, unemployed people on benefits will see their payments fall by 30 per cent. Those who are on Universal [...]City AM · 23 Sept, 22:30
• Tories would ban long-term benefit claimants from buying alcohol and cigarettesFull rate of Universal Credit would be given only to people who have worked for yearsThe Independent · 23 Sept, 22:02
• Tories would prevent long-term jobless spending benefits on alcohol and cigarettesThe proposals would also see benefits cut for people who are able to work but have failed to hold down a job.BBC News · 23 Sept, 22:01

In this story: Kemi Badenoch · Conservative Party · Lucy Powell · Universal Credit

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log