The Chancellor has insisted she is “absolutely certain” benefits cuts will not push people further into hardship, despite the Government’s own evaluation indicting that a quarter of a million people will face relative poverty as a result of the reforms.
An impact assessment of sweeping changes to the welfare state was published alongside Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement on Wednesday. It warned some 250,000 people - including 50,000 children - could fall into relative poverty as a result of slashing benefits payments by almost £5billion.
