Sunak and Starmer clash on betting, taxes and immigration

Rishi Sunak has said people “who can work, should work” as he described his plans to tighten the welfare system by reforming sickness benefits.

“I believe in a compassionate welfare system that supports everyone who needs it,” the prime minister insisted, citing the schemes rolled out during the pandemic.

However, he added: “If people have been offered jobs that they can do and they don’t take them, then that’s not OK. So after 12 months, what I’ve said is we will do something about that.”

Earlier in the debate Sunak claimed that “higher taxes and higher welfare is what you will get with Labour”.