Blair and Brown years, 900,000 working-age Britons were permanently economically inactive

Under the last Labour government, the welfare budget rose by an almost
unbelievable 60 per cent during an economic boom.
Yet the gap between rich and poor widened.
Why?
Partly because the benefits system deterred some people from getting onto the first rung
 of the employment ladder.
Throughout the Blair and Brown years, 900,000 working-age Britons were permanently
economically inactive while 200,000 foreigners a year walked gratefully into jobs as
waiters, receptionists, cab drivers, farm workers and cleaners.