Helen Whately: Not Being Starmer Is Not Enough; Burnham Faces Same Welfare Crisis

In this opinion piece, Helen Whately, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, argues that new Prime Minister Andy Burnham cannot rely on simply not being Keir Starmer to solve Britain's problems. She contends that Labour's avoidance of welfare reform under Starmer led to failure, and Burnham faces the same choice: pursue higher taxes and spending, or confront welfare dependency. Whately highlights 6.5 million people on out-of-work benefits, rising mental health claims, and a need for root-and-branch reform. She proposes face-to-face assessments, ending benefits for anxiety and ADHD, tightening caps, and backing businesses to create jobs. She warns that without reform, taxpayers will pay £5,000 a year for working-age benefits, and Britain cannot tax or borrow its way out of the crisis.