UK Chancellor Healey: Welfare spending will be cut before the next general election.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey said in an interview on Thursday that the government will cut welfare spending before the next general election, in order to address one of the major public spending challenges that remain after the publication of its first budget. When asked whether welfare spending would be cut before the next general election, Healey said: "Welfare spending will be reduced. We will do this in Labour's own way." Healey unveiled his first major tax and spending plan on Wednesday, providing some short-term support for households hit by soaring energy prices, and raising taxes on banks, savers and landlords to help pay for the related costs. But the budget did not address some of the long-term problems facing the public finances, including the ballooning welfare spending bill for pensioners and working-age people in poor healththis spending is expected to exceed 11% of the country's economic output this year. Healey said the UK must prevent this spending from continuing to balloon and focus on youth unemployment. He said: "I feel I have a moral responsibility to help these young people... they have been ignored by successive governments." A UK government review of young people not in employment, education or training is expected to be published next month, and another review of the disability benefits system is also being finalized. It was reported that UK Prime Minister Burnham said on October 26 that the UK will not hold a general election soon, and the current focus is on fulfilling governing responsibilities. The UK's last general election was held in July 2024. According to relevant UK parliamentary rules, the UK prime minister can request the dissolution of Parliament and hold a general election early. If no early general election is held, the current Parliament will be automatically dissolved on July 9, 2029, and the next general election must be held no later than August 15, 2029.