A cabinet minister has stated that Labour MPs are not seeking tax increases to fund additional benefits. The comments follow the release of private messages between Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden and Peter Mandelson. In the texts, McFadden noted that meetings often focused on identifying new taxes to cover benefit payments, describing the approach as misguided. The messages formed part of a data release approved by MPs in February concerning Mandelson’s brief appointment as US ambassador, from which he was later dismissed. Cabinet minister Nick Thomas-Symonds described the messages as embarrassing yet released due to the government’s compliance with a parliamentary motion. He confirmed he had not provided his own messages after his phone was stolen but had verbally summarised their content to officials. Thomas-Symonds said it was not his experience that Labour MPs were pressing for tax rises to support benefits. He emphasised McFadden’s focus on expanding employment opportunities rather than long-term welfare reliance, citing recent proposals on youth unemployment. He rejected suggestions of widespread calls within the party for higher benefit spending, noting unity on addressing youth joblessness. The minister also pointed to rising welfare costs driven by the state pension and the triple lock, expressing support for protecting pensioners. He expressed shock at the extent of Mandelson’s past links to Jeffrey Epstein, revealed in US files last year, and noted congratulatory messages on his own stolen phone.
