‘Remove advantages’ plan by Reform UK is uncovered on Sky News – ‘starved to dying’

The deputy leader of Reform UK was confronted over whether people will be left to “starve themselves to death” over their plans to slash benefits.

In a tense exchange, Dr David Bull was grilled on Sky News about the Reform UK’s policy to withdraw benefits from jobseekers and those fit for work if they do not find employment within four months or if they turn down two job offers. Presenter Sky Burley did not back down and questioned whether people were meant to “eat grass” if they were left with no money at all.

She began by asking: “Jobseekers benefit withdrawn if they turn down two job offers, so how will people survive? What will they live on?” Dr Bull began to say: “The point is we need to make work attractive.” But Ms Burley interjected: “What will they live on?” He responded: “I think you’re seeing this from a very negative point of view.”

Ms Burley said: “This is what it says in your manifesto. I’m asking you to explain if you’re going to withdraw people’s benefits, what do you expect them to live on?” After Dr Bull said they “expect them to take jobs that are appropriate”, the Sky presenter continued to ply pressure: “And what if they don’t… they can’t eat grass can they?”

Dr Bull said: “Well they have to take them don’t they? They can’t sit at home and not do anything.” Asked what should happen to them, he continued: “They should have coaches and mentors and taken into work.”

Ms Burley pressed whether people were going to be left to “starve themselves to death”. Dr Bull hit back: “Of course they won’t starve themselves to death. There are plenty of jobs in this country. We know, as I said, nine million people who are economically inactive. We have to actually get to the root cause because the problem is if we allow people just to sit at home and give them benefits then actually it does nothing for self-worth, does it?”

The presenter said: “My question is what will people survive on if they don’t take jobs. You’ll say you’ll withdraw their benefits so what’s going to happen?” Dr Bull replied: “We’ll make sure there’s a very clear system to help people into work and that has not been happening at the moment – and the tax breaks that people will be given are a huge part of that.”