Britons back squeeze on welfare benefits, suggests poll

The government's welfare reforms include an overall cap on benefits of £26,000

British people are overwhelmingly in favour of having a welfare state, but most want it tightened up, a poll for BBC News suggests.

More than 90% agreed there was a need for a benefits system that provides a safety net for everyone who needs it.

But more than three-quarters of people wanted stricter tests for incapacity benefit, and cuts to benefits for jobless people refusing work.

Most wanted those claiming housing benefit in expensive areas to be moved.

The 92% in favour of the welfare state is an unusually high figure according to Ben Page of polling organisation Ipsos Mori which carried out the survey.

"It shows that the British public's belief in the welfare state is absolutely rock solid."

"There are very few things that people would agree with more in this country."

Last year the government announced plans to cut £7bn in welfare spending, including changes to incapacity, housing benefit and tax credits.

These are being implemented in the Welfare Reform Bill currently going through Parliament, including some of the most radical reforms since the 1940s and the creation of the welfare state.

Among planned changes are an overall cap on a family's benefits of £26,000, limits to housing benefit, new tests for those claiming incapacity benefit and tighter rules for job seekers offered work.

The poll was carried out for the BBC Two programme, The Future State of Welfare with John Humphrys, which can be seen at 21:00 BST on Thursday 27 October or online afterwards (UK only) at the above link.

Hear John Humphrys' report on the Today programme.