Labour constituencies receive 72% of £12bn rise in benefits spending

Analysis from the TaxPayers' Alliance indicates that 72 per cent of the £12.1 billion increase in total benefits spending since the election has been allocated to constituencies represented by Labour MPs. This amount, totaling £8.8 billion, represents a disproportionate share considering Labour MPs hold 65 per cent of English and Welsh Commons seats.

Research shows that the top 10 constituencies with the highest increases in benefits spending are all held by Labour. Specifically, Diane Abbott’s Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency recorded the largest increase at £76.6 million, which is more than three times the constituency average. In comparison, Conservative-held seats received £1.8 billion of the increase, while Liberal Democrat and Reform constituencies received £861 million and £165 million, respectively.

The findings follow previous attempts by Keir Starmer to implement welfare reforms, including restrictions on disability benefit eligibility. Those plans were reportedly dropped following a rebellion by more than 100 backbench MPs. Separately, Alan Milburn, tasked with reviewing youth unemployment, suggested that children should be introduced to career concepts as early as primary school to mitigate future welfare dependency.