- The Conservatives have proposed introducing pre-loaded payment cards for an estimated 350,000 jobseekers to restrict welfare spending.
- The card would prevent claimants from spending benefits on alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, or cash withdrawals, limiting purchases to essential items and bills.
- Jobseekers without a sustained record of tax contributions would face a one-third cut to their standard Universal Credit rate after six months.
- Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed the £538 million annual saving scheme addresses a system that is currently unfair to workers and taxpayers.
- Labour criticised the proposal as an unworkable card scheme, pointing to its own plan for a £3.5 billion employment support package.
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