UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has stressed she must take a responsible approach to the public finances, refusing to rule out real-terms cuts to benefits.
Both the Cabinet and the wider Conservative Party are split on whether benefits should increase in line with inflation.
Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt, who ran against Truss in the Tory leadership contest, has publicly backed increasing benefits in line with inflation so that people can pay their bills.
Truss has committed to increase pensions in line with prices but on benefits said “we have to be fiscally responsible.”
Benefits are usually uprated in line with the consumer price index (CPI) rate of inflation from September, with the rise coming into effect the following April….