Hutton takes over pensions brief
John Hutton has been appointed the new work and pensions secretary following the resignation of David Blunkett this morning.
The MP for Barrow and Furness has become the fourth man to take on the work and pensions brief in a year, and his appointment brings with it some tough decisions.
Adair Turner’s pension commission will publish a major report in less than a month’s time on how to tackle Britain’s pensions gap, which is expected to call for the retirement age to be put back, for people to save more or for an increase in taxes.
And Mr Blunkett – who stepped down after breaching the ministerial code of conduct on taking outside jobs – recently launched his vision to transform the welfare state from a “safety net to a ladder out of poverty”.
This includes the imminent publication of a green paper on incapacity benefit, which intends to help up to one million of the current 2.7 million claimants back to work. In addition, the beleaguered Child Support Agency (CSA) is still in dire need of reform.
Today Mr Hutton insisted he would press ahead with the government’s radical welfare reform agenda, “so that rights are properly matched with responsibilities”.
“We will reform incapacity benefit so it continues to support those who genuinely cannot work but can better help and support those who are able to return to work,” he said.
“And we will address the challenge of creating a pension system that allows people to enjoy a secure retirement in a country where there will soon be more people over the age of 80 than under the age of five.”
Charities have welcomed the appointment of the 50-year-old former law lecturer but warned him to “tread very carefully” on welfare reform.
A joint statement from Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Disability Alliance and One Parent Families applauds the government’s efforts to reduce poverty but insists that forcing people into work would be expensive and potentially counterproductive.
“We strongly support the government’s ongoing policy to reduce poverty but to do so successfully means looking at the complex, structural causes and making sure that delivery is sustainable. There are no quick fixes and we urge you to tread very carefully in this area,” they said.
Mr Hutton has been an MP since 1992, and has held ministerial posts for both the Cabinet Office and the Department of Health in that time. He is also a former chairman of the parliamentary Labour party home affairs and defence committees.
