Deputy PM CLOBBERED on £183 BILLION benefits bill at PMQs

Labour's Louise Haigh was skewered by the Tories over the eye-watering benefits bill as she stood in for Andy Burnham at PMQs today. Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart began by asking the First Secretary of State how much working-age welfare will cost this year. She replied: "This Government is committed to bringing the benefits bill down." He said: "I think it's very telling that the Right Honourable Lady doesn't want to tell us the answer to that question. The answer to the question is £183billion. That is the highest figure ever, it's higher than anything during Covid, it's higher than defence, schools and policing combined, it is nearly £10,000 for every working household in this country." He later added: "The Government's in a complete mess on this." It comes as the Prime Minister is missing the Commons showdown as he is attending a Commonwealth summit in the Caribbean. Read Daily Express: https://www.express.co.uk Like Daily Express on Facebook:   / dailyexpress   Follow Daily Express on X: https://x.com/Daily_Express Follow Daily Express on Instagram:   / dailyexpress   #DailyExpress #News #pmqs #ukpolitics #labourparty #labour #conservatives #conservativeparty #houseofcommons #ukparliament #ukgovernment #welfare #benefits