Long-term sick being failed by Tories' record NHS backlog, Keir Starmer says

21 February 2024 , 22:30

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Keir Starmer says 'Tory inaction in getting long term sick back to work is costing people's talents; (Image: Getty Images)

People off work with long-term sickness are being failed by the Tories' record NHS backlog and job centre red-tape, Keir Starmer will warn today.

The Labour leader accused the government of writing off people who are unable to work because they are languishing on hospital waiting lists. Ahead of next month's Budget, Mr Starmer said: "Tory inaction in getting long term sick back to work is costing people's talents, squeezing our public services, and choking the economy".

The latest figures show around 2.8million people were off work due to long-term sickness in the last part of 2023 - an increase of 8.4% year-on-year. There is also a backlog of 7.6million NHS appointments and record waits.

Earlier this month Rishi Sunak admitted his government had failed on his pledge to cut NHS waiting lists, saying he had "not made enough progress". Labour says it will cut the NHS waiting list by funding two million more operations and scans a year while boosting mental health treatment with 8,500 more professionals.

The party is also proposing changing duties on job centres to require them to work with other agencies including the NHS and mental health services. It has already outlined plans to reform job centres by devolving their powers to local councils and turn them into hubs for skills training.

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Mr Starmer's comments come as he visits a firm today offering tailored health support to keep employees in work. He added: "Unlike this short-sighted Conservative government, Labour will not write off people out of work due to illness. They're being failed by the Tory NHS backlog, and by job centre red tape.

"Our plan will see the backlog tackled, more support for workers, and urgent slashing of job centre rules and regs, all of which is holding us back. My mission focused government will tackle any hurdle in the way of growing our economy. Labour will give Britain it’s future back.”

Labour highlighted research by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in 2020 that found one in five people on sickness benefits wanted to work, particularly on a part-time basis. Last year the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt outlined plans to help over 1million people with long-term health conditions and disabilities back to work.

Ashley Cowburn