Overview
- The Conservative Party published a 50‑page 'Welfare that Works' plan on Tuesday that claims the measures would reduce welfare spending by about £36 billion a year if implemented.
- The party says roughly £13.7 billion would come from tighter sickness and disability rules that exclude many 'milder' mental health and routine physical conditions, with a further £9.5 billion from removing benefit access for some non‑EU foreign nationals.
- The plan would reinstate the two‑child benefit cap and replace cash child disability payments for lower‑need cases with non‑monetary support, moves the Conservatives estimate would save about £3.1 billion and £2.8 billion respectively.
- Campaign groups and Labour warn the changes would sharply increase child poverty and hardship, while analysts question whether diagnosis‑based exclusions and other reforms can deliver the full savings and note likely upfront costs for employment support.
- Implementation would require legislation and could be altered by imminent independent reviews by Alan Milburn and Sir Stephen Timms, and coverage ranges from Conservative outlets stressing fiscal necessity to left‑leaning titles highlighting risks to disabled people and families.