A fierce controversy has ignited in the United Kingdom over the escalating cost of providing translators within the benefits system. The debate was fuelled by far-right, anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, who accused the government of squandering millions in public funds on individuals who "can't speak English."
Tommy Robinson's X Post Ignites Firestorm
In a social media post on X, Robinson launched a sharp critique against taxpayer-funded interpreters for migrants. He pushed for deportation, stating, “If they can't speak English, then they shouldn't be here anyway. Absolute p***take. Deport.” His comments arrived alongside a provocative new report calling for significant restrictions on translation services.
Policy Exchange Report's Key Recommendations
The study, published by the influential think tank Policy Exchange and reported by the Daily Mail, argues that proficiency in English should be a basic requirement or bare minimum for accessing the welfare state. It frames the benefits system as part of a "social contract," adding, “Part of this is the ability to converse in the official, national language.”
The report highlights a dramatic 80 per cent surge in spending on translation services for civil cases in the three years following the Covid-19 pandemic. This expenditure reached £12.8 million last year. Currently, claimants are entitled to free translation help when appealing decisions related to benefits like Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance.
The study proposes a major shift: in future, claimants who cannot speak English should pay for their own interpreters. It recommends that free translation should be reserved only for deaf individuals and for criminal cases, where “freedom and liberty are on the line.”
Broader Context: Soaring Welfare Bills and Legal Battles
This proposal aims to curb a growing welfare bill and reduce judicial influence over benefit rules. The report contends that courts have gradually expanded eligibility criteria, driving up costs, while Parliament has failed to assert control. Spending on sickness and disability benefits alone is forecast to exceed £100 billion by 2030.
Notably, the report found that tribunals hear thousands of benefit appeals annually, with a high success rate—up to 75 per cent of decisions are overturned in some courts. It estimates that tightening rules around mental health claims linked to travel difficulties could save £750 million a year.
Tommy Robinson, known for his staunch opposition to immigration—particularly from Muslim-majority nations—has been a vocal figure in this debate. In September, he led major anti-immigration rallies in London involving tens of thousands of supporters, some of which turned violent.
