A cross-party consensus on reducing the number of benefits awards for anxiety and depression appears to be building. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride became the latest politician to speak out about the number of awards for “less severe mental health problems”, in his speech to the Conservative party conference today.
Below we have set out where the Conservatives, Labour and Reform stand on the issue.
The LibDems have not made their position clear, although in a recent interview Ed Davey did claim there was “quite a lot of fraud” amongst recent PIP claims.
Conservatives
Stride told the conference:
“So we will ensure that benefits are properly targeted at those most in need, with people thriving in jobs where they can and should be working.
“That includes stopping claims for people with less severe mental health problems where what is needed is treatment and support, not simply cash.
“Because we know that the stability, pride and social interaction of work actually improves these conditions.”
Back in 2024, Stride told the Telegraph:
“There is a real risk now that we are labelling the normal ups and downs of human life as medical conditions which then actually serve to hold people back and, ultimately, drive up the benefit bill.
“If they go to the doctor and say ‘I’m feeling rather down and bluesy’, the doctor will give them on average about seven minutes and then, on 94% of occasions, they will be signed off as not fit to carry out any work whatsoever.”
Conservatives Update
Shadow work and pensions minister Helen Whately has now also spoken at the conference:
“But millions of people right now, are sitting on the sofa at home.
“Millions have got themselves a sick note from the GP and signed onto sickness benefits with just a form and a phone call.
“Millions are getting benefits for anxiety and ADHD, along with a free Motability car.
“TikTok videos tell you how - and some people even pay for VIP services to boost their chances of a successful benefits claim.
“Yes, there are people with serious illnesses and disabilities,
“But one in four people now describe themselves as disabled, so what does the term even mean . . . Fix the 'sick note' system, bring back face-to-face assessments, end sickness benefits for low level mental health problems, stop the abuse of Motability, and put British citizens first in our benefits system – just living here is not a reason to get money from taxpayers.”
Labour
Last week we highlighted that Labour is launching a review to decide whether some mental health and neurodivergence issues are being overdiagnosed. The aim is clearly to provide a scientific justification for reducing the number of awards on these grounds.
Back in March, health minister Wes Streeting, the man behind this review, told the BBC that there was an “overdiagnosis” of mental health conditions and that “there’s too many people being written off”.
And last week, prime minister Keir Starmer told Radio 4 that:
“I think we need to look again at this issue of mental health and ask ourselves a fundamental question, which is: would we not be better putting our money in the resources and support that is needed for mental health than simply saying, it’s to be provided in benefits?”
So, there seems little doubt that Labour have mental health conditions, especially as they relate to awards for young people, in their sights.
Reform
Meanwhile, Reform’s welfare spokesperson Lee Anderson assured us earlier this month:
“It’s become fashionable now to have mental health problems, to have your own counsellor, to go for therapy, to have anxiety attacks, to get down to the local benefit centre and sign on for PIP or ESA.”
And the latest defector from the Conservatives to Reform, former shadow DWP minister Danny Kruger has also highlighted the number of claims for less severe mental health conditions:
“ . . . the incidence of disability in our society is rising by 17% while benefit claims are rising by 34%. For some of the less severe mental health claims, it is far worse. In January 2020, there were 7,000 claims for people with anxiety disorders; this year, there are 31,000. In January 2020, there were 155,000 claims for anxiety and depressive disorders mixed; now there are 365,000.”
What next?
At the moment only Labour have the power to make changes to the benefits system. Their recent attempt to reform PIP ended in failure after a backbench revolt supported by almost all the opposition parties.
However, if Labour does bring forward legislation to, make it harder to claim benefits on the basis of mental health conditions, then it looks likely that even a major backbench revolt would not necessarily prevent legislation being passed – provide Starmer was prepared to rely on Conservative and Reform support to get a bill through parliament.
But another major revolt, even if unsuccessful, might be fatal for Starmer’s leadership and so something he may not wish to risk.
Rather than waiting for Labour’s report on overdiagnosis and its inevitable conclusion, mental health and neurodivergence charities need to begin the work of putting the facts before MPs and the public now, before it’s too late.
