Demonstrators gathered on Whitehall to protest against cuts to welfare spending as the government admitted they would likely drive another 250,000 people into poverty.
The cuts to benefits, first announced last week, are expected to take £4.8billion off the welfare bill, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in her budget update on Wednesday.
And she signalled further cuts to welfare with the Universal Credit Health element being cut by 50% and then frozen for new claimants.
According to the government’s own impact assessment, the changes are expected to push another 250,000 people into poverty in 2030, including 50,000 children.
Ahead of the statement, protesters - from groups including Stop The War Coalition, Disabled People Against Cuts and Socialist Worker - convened outside Downing Street.
They held signs that read: “Cuts kill” and “Cut war not welfare”, as well as a large banner saying: “Welfare not warfare”.
BREAKING: Government’s own impact assessment on welfare cuts finds they would drive 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, into poverty pic.twitter.com/73tHDgfH32
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) March 26, 2025
One woman was pictured holding a sign that said: “You are killing my mum to bomb someone’s son”.
According to videos on social media, those gathered chanted: “No more deaths from benefit cuts” and “the people united will never be defeated”.
It comes as charities and health experts warned welfare cuts could risk lives.
Oxfam said the Spring Statement marked “a new low in the fight against poverty and inequality”.
The charity’s senior policy adviser Anna Marriott said: “Today marks a new low in the fight against poverty and inequality as the Government chooses to cut vital international aid and social security support for millions of people struggling at home and around the world while protecting the soaring wealth of millionaires and billionaires.
“Three-quarters of the British public back Government tax increases on the very richest instead of these cruel and unnecessary cuts, but the Chancellor has decided to turn her back on fairness.
“These cuts are not just numbers on a balance sheet but will cost lives and have a devastating impact on people facing conflict, poverty and climate disasters around the world.
“It’s not about tough decisions; it’s about political choices. The Government must stop protecting extreme wealth and start protecting people.”
A coalition of more than 100 disability organisations has said further cuts to welfare will “heighten alarm” among claimants.
Charles Gillies, co-chair at the Disability Benefits Consortium, said: “The Chancellor has chosen to double down on harmful benefits cuts, despite warnings this approach will push more disabled people into poverty and worsen people’s health.
“Since the cuts were announced last week, we’ve seen an outpouring of fear and dread from disabled people, including many with MS.
“The extra cuts announced today will heighten alarm even further, largely hitting those who are unable to work and rely on these benefits to survive.
“People are wondering how they’ll continue to cover their basic living expenses and the extra costs of their disability - like visits from carers to help with things like washing, cooking and going to the toilet. The Government has a moral obligation to scrap these cuts before the real damage is done.”
