Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins has called for "lazy people" to get back to work, claiming some benefit claimants are "playing the mental health card".
The outspoken businessman told GB News that while he doesn't want to "knock people that genuinely need to be on benefits", he believes many are "taking the country for a ride".
His comments come as Labour prepares to announce significant welfare cuts in the upcoming Spring Statement.
Speaking to GB News, Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins said: "Running out of money's going to mean more people on benefits and what we're paying into the income tax system.
Charlie Mullins blasted the "lazy people" on benefits
GB NEWS
"I'm not here to knock the people that genuinely need to be on benefits that are generally sick, but let's not kid anybody.
"We've got so many that are just, shall we say, playing the mental health card, I think I'll call it.
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"A lot of people are just taking the country for a ride. And it's just got to state now that it's got to stop.
"The way it's heading, we just haven't got enough money. So it's not a case of being difficult for people.
"It's now a case of we've got to get our work ethics back and get back in the workplace and start contributing to the country instead of draining it.
"The amount, they say it's going to go up another untroubled by the end of the end of the decade. It's just crazy, you know?
"Whichever way you look at it, we can't afford it. We need to do something about it.
"I'm just going to be blunt as I can be with that being rude, the lazy people that are on it that shouldn't be on it need to go to work so that we can give more money to the genuine people."
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts "in the billions" in her Spring Statement on March 26.
Treasury insiders have indicated that the £9.9billion fiscal headroom left after Labour's October Budget has been severely reduced.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to unveil another Budget at the end of this month
ReutersA Treasury source told The Independent that taking action on welfare "is something we would need to do".
The Chancellor is responding to increased borrowing costs and weak economic growth, which require spending cuts to meet her commitments on managing public finances.
A Government insider told the BBC: "Clearly the world has changed a lot since the autumn Budget. People are watching that change happen before their eyes."
Ministers have not specified where cuts will be made, but the largest element of the working-age welfare bill is incapacity or long-term sickness benefits.
