What's happened
The UK government is reviving a controversial bill aimed at tackling welfare fraud by requiring banks to share data on benefit claimants. Critics warn this could lead to mass surveillance and privacy violations, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. The bill aims to recover £1.6 billion over five years but raises significant ethical concerns.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Robert Booth in The Guardian, the bill has drawn sharp criticism from various advocacy groups, who argue it could lead to a significant invasion of privacy. They warn that the proposed measures could disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals, with leaders from organizations like Disability Rights UK expressing deep concerns. In contrast, the Independent reports that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) insists that the legislation is essential for safeguarding taxpayer money and will not allow unrestricted access to personal bank accounts. The Mirror highlights that the bill is a continuation of previous Conservative plans, suggesting a bipartisan approach to tackling welfare fraud, albeit with significant public backlash regarding privacy issues.
How we got here
The Fraud, Error and Debt Bill, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, follows a previous Conservative initiative that stalled before the general election. It aims to address rising welfare fraud, which costs the UK nearly £10 billion annually.
More on these topics
-
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
-
The Department for Work and Pensions is a British government department responsible for welfare and pension policy. It is the largest governmental department in terms of employees and budget.
-
Labor-Gesher was a joint list of the Israeli Israeli Labor Party and Gesher parties for elections for the twenty-second Knesset. The list advocated social democracy and progressive taxation. The list's platform focused primarily on socio-economic issues.