UK govt plan to slash spending on welfare slammed

Politicians, charities, and human rights groups in the United Kingdom have slammed plans by the government to slash social welfare spending.

The cuts, which the government calls reforms, were outlined by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall on Tuesday and include measures to get more people off benefits and back into work, and rule changes that will make it harder for people to qualify for sickness benefits in the first place.

Kendall said the country of 67 million people cannot afford to have 9.3 million working-age residents out of work and claiming benefits.