Labour must actually bring change in 2025 – and that means changing its approach to benefits

2024: the year that everything changed, and yet everything stayed the same. At least that’s how it has felt at times. After 14 long years of Conservative led government, Keir Starmer was elected prime minister on a mandate and a promise of ‘change’. And change has never been more needed, especially for the 4.3 million children and their families who face a relentless struggle to get by in poverty, and who live daily with the harsh realities of a benefits system which is completely unfit for purpose.

The new Labour secretary of state for work and pensions Liz Kendall has promised action to address the “stain” of child poverty, with a commitment to publishing a 10-year child poverty strategy in the spring. But – as of yet – there has been little concrete action.

Extensions to the household support fund and reductions at the rate at which benefits deductions are repaid are welcome moves, but they can only be described as piecemeal, small-scale and unambitious measures, which do not even begin to tackle the scale or the urgency of the problem faced.

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Labour can and must do better here, and let’s all hope that 2025 brings some concrete and robust policy changes on social security: as so many have said, for the new child poverty strategy to be credible the two-child limit must go; and the benefit cap too; and this should be just the beginning.

But what has also been disappointing about 2024 and what also needs to change in 2025 is that we have not – as of yet – seen a shift in language and rhetoric from Labour on social security. So far, Labour have been too quick to draw on tired narratives about supporting ‘hard working families’ (Reeves’ budget was for ‘strivers’ we were told) and have spoken too much about welfare fraud and not nearly enough about the positive role that social security can play.

Keir Starmer used his first speech at the Labour party conference as prime minister to promise tough action on welfare fraud, with child poverty only getting one mention – and only as part of a legacy of past failures, not as a list of what Labour can and must address.

It is time to tell a new story, which recognises the good that a decent, compassionate social security system can play in creating a society that values the contributions we all make it – be it as parents, workers, volunteers or carers.

When Labour pledges to make life better for families around the country, they should drop the ‘hard working’ qualifier – all families deserve and need help; and participation in the formal labour market should not be a condition of this.

Labour faces a difficult financial inheritance, but talking differently about ‘welfare’ wouldn’t cost a penny. And it would make a real difference; reminding people that social security should be there for all of us when we need it – just like the NHS – and that it can help top up incomes for people at times when their needs are highest – when children are young; when we’re old or incapacitated; during periods of ill-health.

In 2025, we need to see a government ready to tackle the challenge of child poverty head on. They have power, and they must use it to do good. I hope next year sees real, and lasting change here.  Labour must talk and act differently when it comes to welfare – changing the story, and the policies that underpin it. The 4.3 million children living in poverty should not have to wait a day more.  

Dr Ruth Patrick is a researcher for the benefit changes and larger families study – funded by the Nuffield Foundation.

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