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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Peter Walker Senior political correspondent

Badenoch announces Tory review of which conditions qualify for benefits

Kemi Badenoch, giving speech in central London on  9 December 2025, gesturing with her hand with union flag behind her
Kemi Badenoch: ‘We are going to review which conditions the states treats as disabilities when it comes to benefits.’ Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

The Conservatives have begun a policy review to slash the scope and cost of the benefits system, with Kemi Badenoch saying an “age of diagnosis” for “low-level mental conditions” was fast making it unaffordable.

While it is up to the review to come up with specific policies, the Conservative leader hinted that some payments could become time limited, saying one element would examine “at what stage support should come in, and how long it should last”.

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