00:00Now, the truth is, welfare reform is never easy, and it is rarely popular, perhaps especially for Labour governments.
00:10But no responsible Labour government can resile from taking decisions because they are too difficult,
00:18because this is not good enough for the people we came into politics to serve.
00:23So we will reform the welfare state, just as great reforming Labour governments have done in the past,
00:30changing it to meet the social and demographic challenges of today and tomorrow,
00:35and delivering the fairness, equality and opportunity people need and deserve.
00:41So unless we reform the system to help those who can work to do so,
00:46unless we get Social Security spending on a more sustainable footing,
00:50and unless we ensure public money is focused on those with the greatest need
00:55and is spent in ways that have the best chance of improving people's lives,
01:00the risk is the welfare state won't be there for people who really need it in future.
01:06That is why we are grasping the nettle of reform, not for the sake of it,
01:11but to ensure the welfare state lasts for generations to come.
01:15Thank you very much.
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