Britain | Apple watches and wobble boards

A much-praised British scheme to help disabled workers is failing them

It lavishes spending on some, and unfairly deprives others

A man in wheel chair and woman walk near parliament.
Photograph: Getty Images

RACHEL REEVES, Britain’s chancellor, loves “working people”. She mentioned them 13 times in her budget speech in October. But like her Conservative predecessors, Ms Reeves is rather less keen on benefit recipients. The welfare bill for those on sickness and disability is expected to increase by about half in the next five years, exceeding £100bn ($123bn), or 3% of GDP, by 2030. Some suspect the generous terms are contributing to Britain’s high levels of economic inactivity.

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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Apple watches and wobble boards”

From the January 11th 2025 edition

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