Thinktank report spotlights benefits reliance in Britain

Summary

Iain Duncan Smith and his Centre for Social Justice have published State of Dependency, a report on what they call Britain’s worklessness crisis. It identifies 3,400 local areas where more than half of the working-age population are on out-of-work benefits. The Guardian’s Frances Ryan argues that Labour should challenge the right’s welfare rhetoric and use the moment to bring more fairness and compassion to the system.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   16 Oct 2026, 05:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian’s Frances Ryan writes that the Centre for Social Justice report identifies 3,400 areas where over half of the working-age population are on out-of-work benefits, and argues Labour should challenge the right’s welfare rhetoric.