Claim efa7f144Checked 21 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“The Work and Pensions Secretary argued that the question should focus on help to change people's lives rather than benefits entitlement.”
—Keir StarmerLabourThe Prime Minister·Engagements·03 Jun 2026Factual · historical current chronological
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
The evidence is clear and direct. Pat McFadden is the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, having been appointed on 5 September 2025. On 16 March 2026, he delivered a speech titled "Welfare state to working state" at Waltham Forest College, published on GOV.UK. In that speech, McFadden explicitly stated: "The question we should ask is not just 'what are you entitled to?' but 'how do we help you change your life?'" This was further echoed in media interviews where he said: "we need to move from a question which just asks what benefits are you entitled to, to a question that says how can we help you change your life?"
This is a near-verbatim match to Starmer's claim that "the question should always be not what benefits people are entitled to, but what help we can give people to change their lives" and his assertion that "That is what the Work and Pensions Secretary was arguing." The framing, the contrast between entitlement and life-changing help, and the attribution to the Work and Pensions Secretary are all accurately represented.
Sources:
- GOV.UK, "Welfare state to working state" speech by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP (16 March 2026): https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/welfare-state-to-working-state
- GOV.UK, "The Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP" profile page (confirming appointment as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 5 September 2025): https://www.gov.uk/government/people/pat-mcfadden
- The Daily Brit, "Pat McFadden - Welfare reform focus needs to shift to helping people to transform their lives": https://thedailybrit.co.uk/pat-mcfadden-welfare-reform-focus-needs-to-shift-to-helping-people-to-transform-their-lives/
- Fraser Nelson's Substack, "Pat McFadden: a welfare radical?" (quoting the same line from McFadden's speech): https://frasernelson.substack.com/p/pat-mcfadden-and-the-welfare-curve
From speech
They introduced a system that is broken, they put the bill through the roof, and now they want to give us advice on welfare—no thanks! The question should always be not what benefits people are entitled to, but what help we can give people to change their lives. That is what the Work and Pensions Secretary was arguing, and he is right about that. It is a Labour Government that are helping people into work. Leader of the Opposition asks what we have done: more rights for renters, stopping unfair rent hikes, and giving 11 million people greater security and a place to call home; and more rights for workers, including bereavement leave on day one—ask anyone who has lost someone, and they will say just how important it is to have bereavement leave. We have lifted half a million children out of poverty. We often say in this House that every child should go as far as their talent or ability will take them. That does not happen if they are growing up in poverty. The Conservatives have fought us at every turn. I am proud of what we are delivering. There is much more to do.
Sources opened