Watch again as Rishi Sunak calls for end to ‘sick note culture’ in welfare reform speech
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Watch again as Rishi Sunak called for an end to “sick note culture” in his welfare reform speech today (19 April).
The prime minister used his speech to warn against “over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life”.
As Britain emerges from the coronavirus pandemic into a resulting cost of living crisis, with NHS waiting lists hitting record highs, the number of working days lost to sickness or injury has risen to a new record highs.
In a speech on Friday morning, Mr Sunak echod his chancellor Jeremy Hunt in insisting that the focus must shift to what work people might be able to do, amid government concerns some are being unnecessarily written off as sick and “parked on welfare”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments