Public opposed to disability benefit cuts, major survey suggests

Amid widespread political concern about the rising cost of disability benefits, a new survey suggests the public does not support cutting the payments.

Research by the British social attitudes survey found 7% of respondents were in favour of reducing benefits for disabled people who cannot work.

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 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%.

It has occasionally increased to over 5%, including in the 1990s, after the financial crisis in 2008, and during the Covid pandemic.