UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reaffirmed his government’s determination to press ahead with sweeping welfare reforms — a move that has sparked growing concern among disability advocates and a simmering rebellion from within his own Conservative Party.
The reforms, aimed at reducing the number of people deemed unfit to work, could dramatically alter access to disability benefits in the UK. Sunak told Cabinet ministers the country “cannot afford to waste the potential” of those not in work and reiterated his focus on “making welfare fair.”
But the proposals — particularly plans to tighten Work Capability Assessments — have drawn sharp criticism from disability rights groups, who warn that the changes risk penalising vulnerable citizens under the guise of economic efficiency.
Backbench MPs have also voiced discontent, highlighting the political risk of pushing forward with reforms that many see as regressive and harmful to those already facing systemic barriers.
As the UK government moves ahead with legislation, the disability community and civil society groups are mobilising to ensure that reforms do not come at the cost of dignity, inclusion, and fairness.
