John Healey had said there will be a reduction in the welfare bill before the next election, with a “tough” approach to young people who do not accept support to get a job or training.

The chancellor was repeatedly pressed on the issue in broadcast interviews after documents from the Office for Budget Responsibility suggested sickness and disability benefits would cost £100bn a year before the end of the decade.

Healey delivered a budget on Wednesday with small giveaways for most households such as £100 off energy bills to help ease the cost of living. But he deferred some difficult decisions on how defence spending at 3% of national income would be paid for and did not set out any changes to welfare – both of which are likely to be addressed at the spending review.

Speaking after the budget, Healey told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “We have to bring the benefits bill down.”

He echoed the words of Andy Burnham when he said there would be no “crude cuts” after Keir Starmer’s attempts to cut disability benefits…