More Than 1,000 New Pip Users Each Day – The Chancellor Has Big Plans
Pat McFadden, senior cabinet minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, dropped a bombshell yesterday: over a thousand people are hitting the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) sign‑up button every single day. That’s about the population of a whole city—think Leicester—every year.
Why the Numbers Keep Rising
- Each new Pip applicant adds a slice to the pot of government spending.
- The growing number of long‑term sickness and disability cases is expected to double by decade’s end.
- Over 100 MPs have already donned the “stop reforms” badge, making the issue a hot potato.
McFadden’s “Talk‑Shop” and the £5 Billion Goal
On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the minister said: “We’ll keep chatting with folks until the vote—there’s no dodging the need for a welfare overhaul.” Bottom line: tightening eligibility is intended to save a cool £5 billion per year.
Reality Check
“We’re stuck in a decade where the long‑term benefits boom sideways,” McFadden mused. “A thousand new Pip participants daily is like a mini‑city swelling year after year. Reform isn’t a walk in the park; it’s a tough slog.”
With the clock ticking, voters and bureaucrats alike will watch closely as the government gears up for the next policy pivot.
