Robert Jenrick calls for lower benefits bill to pay for tax cuts

Speaking at the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank, Jenrick said there should be attempts to tighten eligibly for disability payments, which have risen sharply since the pandemic and are projected to rise further in coming years.

Although payments for the “genuinely unable” should continue, he said, “we should not be blind to the rise and misuse of our system”.

In an apparent reference to rising claims for mental health reasons, he added: “Too many indicators now show that we are medicalising normal human experiences.”

He also set out proposed changes for those on out-of-work benefits, including tougher penalties for people who fail to meet conditions attached to benefit payments, such as attending job centre meetings.

Long-term claimants on work coaching schemes who remain jobless should face additional conditions after 12 months, rather than 18 currently, he argued.

He said returning both the disability and incapacity caseload to pre-pandemic levels would save £12bn, adding: “That would equate to almost 2p off the basic rate of income tax.”

Asked whether as leader he would commit the Tories to 2p cut to the basic rate of income tax at the next election, he replied that he was not seeking to write the party’s next manifesto, but rather to “set out what the choice is”.