British leader Rishi Sunak has plans to crack down on what he labelled Britain's "sick note culture". Mr Sunak believes too many people in the UK are claiming welfare benefits because of mental health issues. He said this was a drain on the economy. He added that people not working was creating labour shortages. The number of sick notes issued by doctors has risen sharply. The most common diagnoses being given by doctors are related to mental health. Sunak said: "We need to change the sick note culture, so the default becomes what work you can do, not what you can't."

Sunak wants to get people off benefits. He said: "We need to be more ambitious about helping people back to work, and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday…worries of life." He added: "Half of people becoming inactive over the last year cited depression and anxiety." Many people say the government caused the current crisis. A charity said: "Services are at breaking point following years of underinvestment." Opposition politicians called Sunak's plans, "another front for their culture wars". It said the government was "tone deaf, shameless and irresponsible".