Recent findings indicate that plans by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to reduce Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are unlikely to gain widespread support, even among Conservative and Reform Party voters. The British Social Attitudes (BSA) report reveals that almost half of the surveyed population believes spending on PIP should actually be increased.
The study shows a marked reluctance across the political spectrum to back cuts to disability benefits. Only seven per cent of all respondents support reductions, while 49 per cent favour increasing such spending. Among Labour Party supporters, a mere five per cent are in favour of cuts, whereas this figure rises slightly to 10 per cent among those identifying with the Conservative or Reform Parties.
Furthermore, 57 per cent of Labour supporters expressed a desire for increased disability benefit expenditure, compared with 40 per cent among Conservative and Reform supporters-a significant proportion from all sides.
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Robert de Vries, senior lecturer at the University of Kent and co-author of the report, commented: “Despite increasing political divisions on welfare, support for disability benefits remains notably strong. Very few individuals endorse cutting these benefits, as disabled people are widely considered some of the most deserving recipients. Consequently, attempts to reduce disability benefits are politically sensitive across all parties.”
He added, “While it is difficult to predict public opinion on specific cuts in advance, it is clear that navigating public support for such measures poses a substantial challenge for any government.”
The study surveyed 4,656 individuals across the United Kingdom between August and October 2025.
These findings come at a time when Labour Party Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to “get serious” about welfare reform, hinting at changes following the forthcoming Timms Review. The review, which has already produced an interim report, critiques the current state of PIP, describing it as neither “fit nor fair.”