BBC Radio 4 presenter Amol Rajan apologised to listeners this morning after remarks he made during an interview appeared to label some families on benefits as “scroungers.”
Rajan, who has been a host on the Today programme since 2021, addressed the controversy live on air, clarifying his words from a discussion with former Labour minister Lord David Blunkett.
He said: “I absolutely wasn’t describing people on welfare as scroungers myself.
My point was that the majority of children in poverty—over 70 percent—are in families where people work.”
He added that he regretted any confusion his phrasing may have caused, stressing he would never personally use derogatory language to describe families receiving social support.
Social Media Reacts to Rajan’s Statement
Listeners were quick to respond on social media, expressing frustration over the language used on a flagship news programme.
One commenter asked: “BBC Radio 4 Today, can you explain why the phrase ‘scroungers on welfare’ was even used?” Another highlighted the perceived contradiction, saying, “He restated the characterization of people on benefits while trying to clarify. Not good.”
The outcry reflects heightened sensitivity around discussions of poverty and welfare, especially when broadcast by national media outlets.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Scraps Two-Child Benefit Cap
The comments came amid wider discussion of yesterday’s Budget, in which Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the removal of the two-child benefit cap.
The policy, introduced in 2017, had limited additional child benefits to families with more than two children, often leaving the youngest at a disadvantage.
Reeves explained the move would lift 450,000 children out of poverty and increase benefits for 560,000 families by an average of £5,310 by 2029-30.
The Office for Budget Responsibility predicted the change would cost taxpayers £3 billion annually by 2030.
Labour and Tories Clash Over Welfare Measures
The announcement sparked immediate political debate.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the move as a “Budget for Benefits Street,” arguing that workers, pensioners, and savers would bear the cost.
Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash heckled in response, insisting the policy was necessary to remove children from poverty.
Reeves called the previous policy “vile” and highlighted the so-called “rape clause,” which forced women who had been raped to prove non-consensual conception in order to claim support. She stated: “It is dehumanising.
It is cruel, and I will remove it from the statute book.”
Office for Budget Responsibility Apologises for Leak
The Budget measures were leaked early after the OBR published an analysis of the Chancellor’s policies prematurely.
Richard Hughes, chairman of the OBR, apologised for the disruption, taking full responsibility and promising an internal investigation.
He said: “I feel personally mortified by what happened.
We let people down, and we will make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
The investigation will include expert oversight from Professor Ciaran Martin and aims to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
What the Two-Child Cap Removal Means
Families across the UK will see a tangible increase in support, with additional benefits for children in households previously constrained by the cap.
The changes also aim to remove the punitive elements of the policy, focusing instead on children’s welfare rather than parental circumstances.
Reeves emphasised that children should not “bear the brunt” of difficult family circumstances, citing examples such as separation, ill health, or job loss as situations where policy needed to be compassionate.
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