Joe Robertson

Joe Robertson

Conservative — Isle of Wight East

Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 November 2026

Debate

Welfare

Contribution

I fundamentally disagree with the hon. Member’s claim that covid and its legacy had no effect. I think he should go back and think again about what life was like during covid and in the aftermath. I turn now to our plan. We will not make the mistake that the Labour party made in opposition. We will not sit by and let a system become more and more unfair without doing the hard graft. As my hon. Friend the Member for Solihull West and Shirley (Dr Shastri-Hurst) pointed out, it is not fair to leave the system as it is. Our plan includes £36.1 billion of welfare savings to help get Britain working. Ensuring support for people with genuine need is at the heart of it, and we will provide £1 billion for people with lower-level mental health conditions. That is new money to help them and ensure that we can make savings of £16.5 billion by removing them from the cash handout system, giving them the therapeutic support that they need instead.

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