David Lammy Calls Out Family Member for ‘Unnecessary’ Benefit Claims

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Foreign Secretary David Lammy has found himself at the center of a political storm after revealing in a cabinet meeting that a member of his extended family had been claiming benefits they were "probably" not entitled to. His comments came during a heated discussion among senior Labour ministers over proposed welfare cuts aimed at saving the government £5 billion.

 

 

The meeting, which saw tensions flare over the controversial reforms, included pushback from key figures such as Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and Commons Leader Lucy Powell. They reportedly questioned whether restricting welfare benefits was the right approach to balancing the budget. Powell even interrupted Science Secretary Peter Kyle as he defended the cuts, arguing that they were both fiscally necessary and morally justifiable. A government source described the exchange as "tense."

 

 

Lammy, who has often spoken about his own childhood struggles in poverty in Tottenham, North London, weighed in by citing his relative’s situation as an example of why reforms were needed. However, he has since refrained from publicly commenting on the matter. His remarks have added fuel to an already divisive debate, as Labour MPs voice concerns that the cuts could leave up to 1.2 million people without essential financial support.

 

Criticism quickly followed from both inside and outside the party. Polly Billington, a former special adviser to Ed Miliband, questioned the impact of the changes in Parliament, asking how “reducing support for those who struggle to wash and dress themselves” would help address worklessness. Meanwhile, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott strongly condemned Lammy’s justification of the cuts, accusing him of painting his own relative as a "scrounger."

 

Abbott further argued that the real causes of financial hardship lay elsewhere, stating, “I hope people properly understand, it has never been migrants or asylum seekers making you worse off. It is your landlord, your bank, your supermarket, your energy supplier — and your government.” She warned that allowing the government to proceed with these cuts unchallenged would only lead to further austerity measures, which, she argued, do not actually improve public finances.

 

The controversy surrounding Lammy’s comments highlights broader divisions within Labour over welfare policy. While the government insists the cuts are necessary to curb unnecessary spending and restore financial stability, critics within the party fear they will disproportionately harm vulnerable people. With public opposition growing and Labour MPs voicing their discontent, the battle over welfare reform is far from over.

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-03-24

 

 

[Snackbar]

Picking peanuts out of poo

 

[blazes]

Good to see Diane Abbott adding her customary intellectual depth to the debate....

[Scouse123]

12 minutes ago, blazes said:

Good to see Diane Abbott adding her customary intellectual depth to the debate....

😆😆😆😆

 

She's a star, isn't she!