Conservative leader to give a speech later, while Treasury sources say Healey has ruled out a rise in capital gains tax
Angela Rayner, the housing secretary, was the government voice in the broadcasting studios this morning.
Asked on the Today programme if she favoured the plans the Alan Milburn youth unemployment review is expected to recommend, cutting some benefits for young people in return for more focus on employment support, Rayner replied:
What we’re not doing is arbitrary cuts.
I am cheering them on because I don’t believe that having over a million children without any prospects of being in training or in employment is something that this country should accept.
Well, again, what I’m saying is that what Alan Milburn is saying himself, is that we have to create opportunities for young people to get into employment, and it’s too difficult for some of these young people.
The government confirmed the move to end so-called “double provision” which enables offenders to claim hundreds of pounds a month for living costs while receiving NHS psychiatric treatment.
Regulations laid in parliament today seek to close the loophole and prevent serious criminals receiving up to £800 a month in universal credit over several years, saving an estimated tens of millions of pounds annually.
We said we’d act to tackle this gross unfairness and we’re delivering on that promise.
For too long these violent criminals have had their living costs paid by the taxpayer twice over, while their victims and families paid the price.
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