Rishi Sunak promises hundreds of millions in mental health benefits if re-elected
UK PM Rishi Sunak
The UK Conservatives led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have pledged 730 million pounds ($927mn) to expand mental health treatment within the ambit of the National Health Service, a move aimed to woo the voters ahead of July 4 General Elections. Tories continue to trail behind Labour Party in opinion polls.
The Conservatives say that the state funding of therapies such as counselling services for more 500,000 people would help save the UK economy 12 billion pounds ($15.24bn) as more people of the working age would return to work, prompting a potential end to the 'sick note culture'.
According to the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS), the number of people inactive for health reasons has increased by 33 per cent to 2.8 million.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made ending "sick note culture" a top theme of his tenure in the 10, Downing Street.
His opponents claim that Sunak is attempting to "disguise the fact that he has caused a spiralling benefits bill".
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But Sunak said that "reforming welfare is a moral mission".
"That's why we have announced a significant increase in mental health provision, as well as changes to ensure those who can work, do work."
Besides, the Tories have pledged to bring forward a number of reforms. This includes disability benefits for the ones most in need as well as tightening of the work capability assessment criteria.
A Labour spokesperson said: "This is the latest desperate announcement from Rishi Sunak, who has once again plucked numbers out of thin air in an attempt to disguise the fact that he has caused a spiralling benefits bill."
"These reheated pledges, old policies and vague promises will not get Britain healthy or benefits under control, and do nothing to solve the fact that £10bn ($12.7bn) of taxpayers' money was lost to benefit fraud just last year."
(With inputs from agencies)