To address Britain's significant national debt of £3 trillion and a projected £110 billion in debt interest this year, Andy Burnham must confront the escalating welfare bill, which is forecast to reach £410 billion by 2030. The article proposes a "compassionate cuts" agenda, focusing on two main drivers of welfare spending: working-age inactivity and an aging population. For those of working age, it suggests tightening eligibility criteria for welfare, providing increased support to help individuals enter or remain in work, and initiating a national conversation about the conditions leading to workforce exit, particularly regarding mental health diagnoses. For pensioners, it advocates for scrapping the triple lock and raising the state pension age, coupled with support for people to work longer through flexible employment options and phased pension access. This approach aims to curb spending without causing undue social or economic harm.