The survey for The i Paper by BMG Research suggests that a large number of people believe the overall benefits bill is too high, as ministers have argued.
Starmer has insisted it is essential to control spending on working-age benefits, which has ballooned since the Covid-19 pandemic. He will hold a vote this week on cuts to PIP and incapacity benefits for those unable to work because of a disability, having watered down the Government’s previous plans in order to limit the size of a rebellion by Labour MPs which had threatened to sink the policy.
He said: “I’m putting this as context rather than excuse: I was heavily focused on what was happening with Nato and the Middle East all weekend. I turned my attention fully to it when I got back from Nato on Wednesday night. Obviously in the course of the early part of this week we were busy trying to make sure Nato was a success.”
Overall, 41 per cent of voters believe that benefits spending is too high, with only 19 per cent thinking it is too low.
Similarly on universal credit, sickness benefit, housing benefit and welfare aimed at families, there is net support for higher rather than lower spending, although by a smaller margin than for disability benefits. Only the state pension is more popular, with 48 per cent calling for more money and 10 per cent saying too much is now being spent.
Robert Struthers of BMG said: “The public’s views on welfare are complex, with important nuances. Ask about the benefits bill overall, and most say it’s too high. But dig into disability benefits or sickness payments, and the public is more divided. It sounds inconsistent, but it reflects reality: it’s easier to call for cuts in the abstract, harder when faced with who would lose out.
BMG Research interviewed a representative sample of 1,617 GB adults online between 24-25 June May 2025. BMG Research is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
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