Sunak accused of making mental illness ‘another front in the culture wars’

In a speech at the Centre for Social Justice in London, Sunak said ‘something has gone’ since the pandemic to increase the number of economically inactive people who are long-term sick. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Rishi Sunak has been accused of making mental ill health “another front in the culture wars”, as critics warned his plan to curb benefits for some with anxiety and depression was an assault on disabled people.

In a speech on welfare, the prime minister said he wanted to explore withdrawing a major cash benefit claimed by people living with mental health problems and replacing it with treatment.