Do you agree with planned benefit cuts? Yahoo readers have their say
Welfare spending is forecast to rise sharply over the next few years, driven by the UK's ageing population and an increase in the number of people receiving health and disability benefits.
It's in this context that the government introduced its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill earlier this month, with the intention of tightening eligibility criteria to both benefits.
The proposed legislation aimed to encourage more people off sickness benefits and into work, with the government hoping to save £5bn a year.
However, the bill prompted a backbench rebellion of more than 100 Labour MPs, meaning Sir Keir Starmer faced a first major House of Commons defeat during next week's vote.
The government responded by watering down the proposals on Friday, with the government now confident of winning the vote.
In our poll earlier this week, Yahoo News UK asked our readers if they agreed with the government's plans. It received 3,387 votes and showed a majority - 54% - of readers disagree, with 42% backing Starmer.
The poll's Have Your Say feature attracted some passionate comments, with many readers focusing on the impact on the most vulnerable people in society.
Alan W from Hertfordshire, said: "These cuts don't save money in the long run, they create deeper poverty, increase homelessness and push more people into crisis, ultimately costing us more in healthcare and social services. We are a compassionate society and our strength lies in supporting each other, not abandoning those who need us most."
S Brown, from Norfolk, said: "If these benefit changes go through, I will lose £9,000 a year, due to losing both daily living PIP and the LCWRA [Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity] element of UC. That's half of my yearly income. And part-time work, even if possible, would not claw back the £9,000 I'm going to lose."
Our strength lies in supporting each other, not abandoning those who need us most
On the other hand, Neil T from Appleton, said: "I believe that the UK needs to greatly reduce funding for social support with families and individuals carrying more responsibility for their needs."
Mary T, from Scotland, countered: "Instead of punishing people with genuine reasons for not being able to work, the government should look closer to home for savings: minister's salaries, expenses and taxes. Another area for saving is the NHS salaries paid to GPs, and inflated renumeration for consultants. I'm sure there would be ample opportunity there to save money."
The government should look closer to home for savings
But Yahoo News UK readers were also asked which areas of government spending they would like to see reduced - and welfare was top with 47% of the votes.
This poll received 1,524 votes with the second most common being defence (13%).
A similar YouGov poll earlier this year asked members of the public where they thought there is capacity for spending cuts, and the results tallied with the above Yahoo vote. It found Britons are most likely to think there is capacity for spending cuts in welfare, with 51% saying so.
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