‘Welfare not warfare’: Demonstrators on Whitehall protest against cuts

Demonstrators have gathered on Whitehall to protest against cuts in the Chancellor’s spring statement, calling for “welfare not warfare”.

Rachel Reeves confirmed a further squeeze on the welfare budget as she delivered her statement on Wednesday.

She announced measures building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month, with the package now expected to save £4.8 billion – slightly short of the £5 billion originally hoped for by ministers.

Protesters – from groups including Stop The War Coalition, Disabled People Against Cuts and Socialist Worker – convened outside Downing Street ahead of the statement’s delivery.

They held signs that read: “Cuts kill” and “Cut war not welfare”, as well as a large banner saying: “Welfare not warfare.”

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, with the Government set to publish an official impact assessment into how many people will be affected by its plans.

Professor Gerry McCartney, a specialist in wellbeing economy at the University of Glasgow, said: “There is now substantial evidence that cuts to social security since 2010 have fundamentally harmed the health of the UK population.

“Implementing yet more cuts will therefore result in more premature deaths. It is vital that the UK Government understands this evidence and takes a different policy approach.”