Public opposed to disability benefit cuts, major survey suggests

Public opposed to disability benefit cuts, major survey suggests

Around 7% of those polled wanted disability benefit cuts, according to the latest British Social Attitudes survey.

Almost half of those who took part, 49%, said they supported more being spent on disability benefits, even if it led to higher taxes.

The authors noted that the timing of the interviews, just after the Starmer government had failed to reform PIP, meant it was 'possible that people were particularly supportive of disability benefits at the time'.

They cautioned that public attitudes to disability benefits 'crucially depend on which disabled people are in the public's mind', referencing previous research which showed that 'some types of disabled people are seen as 'deserving' by the public'.

The findings come despite the proportion of those who support increasing welfare spending for the poor being at a near record low.

Labour, the Conservative party and Reform UK have all said there is a need to reduce the amount of money being spent on health and disability benefits, while the Liberal Democrats, Greens and SNP oppose reductions.

Efforts by Sir Keir Starmer to introduce cuts last year were opposed by many in his own party, forcing a government climbdown.

The proportion of GDP the UK spends on all welfare benefits for those of working age has remained broadly flat over the past 40 years, at just under 5%. According to the latest British Social Attitudes survey, around 7% of those polled wanted disability benefit cuts, despite support being at a near record low.

A majority of respondents (49%) said they supported more being spent on disability benefits, even if it led to higher taxes.

Support for increasing welfare payments to help the poor was close to the lowest level the researchers have ever recorded.

Around 27% of respondents said they should spend more money on welfare benefits for the poor, while 42% were opposed.

Efforts by Sir Keir Starmer to introduce cuts last year were opposed by Labour, the Conservative party and Reform UK, while the Liberal Democrats, Greens and SNP oppose reductions.

The survey found that support for disability benefits remains remarkably strong despite growing political divisions on welfare.