Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Simon English

Why has the UK government announced swingeing welfare cuts?

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions in parliament in London on March 19, 2025 [Carlos Jasso/Reuters]

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a major shake-up of the country’s welfare system, arguing that it could save the country 5 billion pounds ($6.48bn) a year by 2030, but sparked a political row in the process.

In particular, the government is cutting health and disability benefits by making it harder for people with less severe conditions to receive government support.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.