Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Social Justice

Rishi Sunak says slashing benefits is his 'moral mission'. But what's moral about causing anxiety?

The Conservatives want to cut the benefits bill by £12billion by pushing disabled people into work, and Labour has also announced its 'back to work' plan. Here's why a more compassionate approach is needed

Rwanda Rishi Sunak

Image: Number 10/Flickr/Simon Walker

Rishi Sunak believes it is his “moral mission” to reform the welfare system by slashing £12bn from the benefits bill by the end of the next parliament.

The Conservative prime minister claimed he would do this by pushing more people, including those who are disabled and have long-term health conditions, into work.

It builds on his previously announced plans for a more punitive benefits regime which intends to eradicate a so-called “sick-note culture”.

Proposals have included tightening access to extra universal credit, replacing people’s personal independence payment (PIP) with one-off grants, and increased use of conditionality and sanctions to punish claimants deemed not to be looking for work.

Disability activist who goes by the name of Ben Claimant posted on X: “I don’t know what is moral about causing huge amounts of anxiety and stress, but I guess what the Tories mean about ‘reforming welfare’ is miles apart from what people actually need.”

Sunak has also announced a £700m investment in NHS mental health treatment to ensure 500,000 more people can access talking therapies by 2030.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Labour, which is expected to win the next election, has announced its own plan to drive more people into work. It claims it will target an increase in the employment rate from 75% to 80%.

It includes new local plans for work, health and skills support to get more people with health conditions and disabilities into work, with devolved funding and leadership from mayors and local areas.

Labour also wants new combined national jobs and careers service, bringing together Jobcentres and the careers service, to get more people into work.

Keir Starmer’s party has also announced proposals for a “youth guarantee” to help people aged 18 to 21 find training or apprenticeships.

It has not confirmed whether it would drop the Conservatives’ plans for benefits cuts, which experts fear will drive more people into poverty and exacerbate mental and physical health conditions, pushing people further away from work.

The Big Issue’s Blueprint for Change is calling for the next government to take a supportive approach to getting people into work – rather than punishing people who face barriers in the workplace.

Read about why the next government must show compassion towards disabled people rather than threatening to cut back their benefits here.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

View all
Get rich and die trying: Typical Brit must save entire lifetime of earnings to become wealthy
Woman putting money in piggy bank/ how make money
Wealth

Get rich and die trying: Typical Brit must save entire lifetime of earnings to become wealthy

Disabled man may be forced to close his business after DWP slashed his Access to Work support
Access to work

Disabled man may be forced to close his business after DWP slashed his Access to Work support

The DWP is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of disabled people. Here's how to overhaul it
New work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden in the House of Commons
Benefits

The DWP is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of disabled people. Here's how to overhaul it

Here's when people will get their benefits from the DWP over Christmas in 2025
dwp benefits christmas/ bauble
Christmas

Here's when people will get their benefits from the DWP over Christmas in 2025

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Every day, Big Issue digs deeper – speaking up for those society overlooks. Will you help us keep doing this work?