Minister Kemi Badenoch has defended a proposal to cut housing benefits, stating the move is necessary to fund increased defense spending and safeguard national security. The plan, which could reduce the housing benefit bill by £4 billion, would reportedly exempt pensioners and existing tenants.
Badenoch argued on the Today programme that prioritizing national security is paramount, suggesting that a lack of it would endanger everyone and lead to greater homelessness. "Without national security, there aren't going to be any benefits," she stated, adding that "the government's first duty is defence of the realm."
The proposed changes are part of a broader package aimed at cutting £23 billion from welfare spending to partially fund an increase in defense expenditure. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Badenoch clarified that individuals receiving local housing allowance might need to relocate to more affordable areas if they live in expensive locations. "I think you should aspire to live wherever you want to live, but you shouldn't aspire for the government, i.e. other taxpayers, to pay for you to live wherever you want to live," she said.
She emphasized that the plans would not result in people being removed from their homes, reiterating the exemptions for pensioners and current tenants. "I do think you need to be fair," Badenoch added.
However, Andy Burnham, responding to the proposals, expressed concern that the cuts would exacerbate homelessness. He stated that removing £4 billion from housing benefit would likely create unprecedented levels of homelessness, potentially leaving hundreds of thousands of children in temporary accommodation.