Labour’s benefit cuts will cost UK economy billions, charity says

Anti-poverty charity Trussell says not addressing hunger and hardship has economic as well as human costs. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Keir Starmer has been warned that Labour’s tough stance on benefits is costing Britain’s economy billions of pounds each year while adding to the pressure on public services by pushing more people into poverty.

With the government under fire over its planned benefit cuts, the anti-poverty charity Trussell said that failing to tackle hunger and hardship would have severe human costs and cause damage to the wider economy and public finances.