Labour minister admits welfare cuts worsen people's situations

In a recent interview, Labour minister Torsten Bell faced tough questions about the government's planned cuts to welfare. The discussion intensified when presenter Victoria Derbyshire asked whether he was comfortable with making people worse off. Bell was speaking after work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall announced cuts that could reduce welfare spending by £5 billion. Many charities and politicians criticized the reforms, calling them "indefensible." During the interview, Bell admitted that some people would be negatively affected by the changes. Derbyshire pressed him on the implications of the cuts. She asked, "Are you OK with making people worse off?" Bell responded by emphasizing the need for a sustainable benefits system but did not directly answer her question. The two continued to challenge each other's views. As the conversation moved on, Derbyshire pointed out that young people might have to live on just £70 a week due to the reforms. She asked Bell if he could survive on that amount, to which he replied he could not. This led her to question why the government expects young people to manage on such a small budget. Bell argued that the system changes would ultimately help more people find work and improve their situations. However, Derbyshire remained skeptical, insisting that the proposed measures could harm vulnerable individuals.