Jenrick vows to rip up Britain’s £50 billion benefits system

Robert Jenrick has pledged to overhaul Britain’s welfare system, claiming Reform UK could save tens of billions of pounds and end what he described as the UK “acting as the world’s welfare state”.

The Reform Treasury spokesman said a future government would impose sweeping restrictions on benefits while redesigning the relationship between employers, workers and the state.

Jenrick said the existing system was “unfair” and argued that British taxpayers were carrying an excessive burden. Reform has separately pledged to prevent foreign nationals from claiming benefits as part of its wider welfare reforms.

Under the proposals, smaller businesses with five or fewer employees would be largely shielded from the changes, while larger employers would take out insurance policies linked to long-term sickness. In return, businesses would benefit from reductions in National Insurance costs.

Jenrick argued the system would create a financial incentive for companies to improve workplace conditions and help employees return to work.

Instead of what he dismissed as “b******t schemes”, he said employers should spend money directly on supporting their workforce.

The proposals form part of Reform’s wider attempt to reduce a welfare bill that it says has become unsustainable. Jenrick has previously claimed the party could deliver more than £21 billion in annual savings within five years.

He described the social contract between the state and the public as “broken”, while accusing successive Conservative governments of being too reluctant to make difficult reductions in spending.

Richard Tice, the party’s chairman, has also attacked the rising benefits bill, arguing that too much support is being paid to people capable of working.

Reform is positioning welfare reform as a central dividing line with the established parties, combining tighter eligibility rules with a new system intended to shift more responsibility towards employers.

The scale and practical impact of the proposals, however, would depend on legislation, detailed eligibility rules and the cost of implementing the new employment insurance system.