Lee Anderson, the Reform UK MP, has revealed a startling admission about his past work at Citizens Advice. He openly stated he and his colleagues actively “gamed the system” to secure benefits for clients.
This confession came during his first major press conference as his party’s welfare spokesman, a role seemingly built on that very experience. Anderson described a dynamic with the Department for Work and Pensions as a competitive one, a constant push and pull for successful claims.
He recounted colleagues boasting a “100% hit rate” on applications, even managing to get disability benefits – specifically Personal Independence Payment – approved for individuals who appeared perfectly capable. He vividly described securing payments for “the fittest man in Ashfield.”
Anderson’s revelations extended to the readily available resources that aided this practice. He pointed to online “assessment handbooks” that essentially provided claimants with answers beforehand, comparing it to having a driving theory test solution manual.
He painted a picture of a growing “anxiety generation,” individuals he believes are increasingly reliant on taxpayer-funded support – employment loans, and disability payments – keeping them out of the workforce.
Reform UK’s proposed solution involves cutting Personal Independence Payments for those with “non-major anxiety,” redirecting them into a “Fast Track to Work” program. They also plan to drastically increase face-to-face assessments and more frequent reassessments for benefit recipients.
The timing of these proposals is notable, following the recent collapse of Labour’s own attempts to overhaul the benefits system due to internal opposition. Labour representatives were quick to criticize Reform’s plan, highlighting inconsistencies in Anderson’s past support for Conservative policies that reduced face-to-face assessments.
