Labour MP Jo White has backed the Government's controversial benefits reforms, saying they are needed to stop Britons "not doing anything" and break generational benefit dependency.
Speaking on GB News, the MP said she "very much" supports the upcoming bill on benefits.
Her comments come as tensions grow within the Labour Party ahead of expected welfare cuts in the Spring Statement on March 26.
The Chancellor is expected to announce significant reductions during her Spring Statement on March 26 as she seeks to plug an estimated £11.5bn hole in her finances.
Speaking on GB News Jo White said: “My view is if you are going to stand up for your constituents, you should be voting for employee rights like this. It's so, so important.
“In my constituency they tell me that they want better wages, they want an end to the zero-hour contracts, and the hire and re-fire completely makes them vulnerable.
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“We need to have all MPs standing up for their constituents. And it concerns me that in constituents like mine, where they are listening to MPs like Nigel Farage, they need to know that he does not defend them in the field of employment rights.
“I see trade unions and employers working together to strengthen that partnership. I've been an active trade unionist all my life. In fact, I served as a trade union executive.
“I saw for myself how you can have a much better working relationship with the trade unions by coming together, sorting out those issues, such as the health and safety concerns, ensuring productivity is better.
“And that is about building back our country, building back Britain; the employees working with management through the trade unions.
“If you have a minimum wage at £50 an hour, that would be very damaging for a lot of businesses, even though a lot of people might think it was a good idea.
“I very much support the bill that's coming [on benefits]. There are far too many people in my communities who have been on benefits all their lives and there are generations of people on benefits, and we have to work to lift them out.
“By people being in work it raises aspirations, it lifts people out of poverty.
"I think that we need to change the way our benefit system works to encourage people to get back into work and use any money that's saved to go back into the NHS, to cut those waiting lists and also provide the skills and training for the people to access the jobs that they really want to do.
“Most people say to me, ‘look at those people down the road. I have to work hard all my life, and yet those people are on benefits, not doing anything each day, staying in and watching TV.’
“I want to a fair society, and I believe about this is about building fairness.”
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Speaking on GB News, the MP said she "very much" supports the upcoming bill on benefits.
Her comments come as tensions grow within the Labour Party ahead of expected welfare cuts in the Spring Statement on March 26.
The Chancellor is expected to announce significant reductions during her Spring Statement on March 26 as she seeks to plug an estimated £11.5bn hole in her finances.
Speaking on GB News Jo White said: “My view is if you are going to stand up for your constituents, you should be voting for employee rights like this. It's so, so important.
“In my constituency they tell me that they want better wages, they want an end to the zero-hour contracts, and the hire and re-fire completely makes them vulnerable.
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“We need to have all MPs standing up for their constituents. And it concerns me that in constituents like mine, where they are listening to MPs like Nigel Farage, they need to know that he does not defend them in the field of employment rights.
“I see trade unions and employers working together to strengthen that partnership. I've been an active trade unionist all my life. In fact, I served as a trade union executive.
“I saw for myself how you can have a much better working relationship with the trade unions by coming together, sorting out those issues, such as the health and safety concerns, ensuring productivity is better.
“And that is about building back our country, building back Britain; the employees working with management through the trade unions.
“If you have a minimum wage at £50 an hour, that would be very damaging for a lot of businesses, even though a lot of people might think it was a good idea.
“I very much support the bill that's coming [on benefits]. There are far too many people in my communities who have been on benefits all their lives and there are generations of people on benefits, and we have to work to lift them out.
“By people being in work it raises aspirations, it lifts people out of poverty.
"I think that we need to change the way our benefit system works to encourage people to get back into work and use any money that's saved to go back into the NHS, to cut those waiting lists and also provide the skills and training for the people to access the jobs that they really want to do.
“Most people say to me, ‘look at those people down the road. I have to work hard all my life, and yet those people are on benefits, not doing anything each day, staying in and watching TV.’
“I want to a fair society, and I believe about this is about building fairness.”
Find Out More...