TUC: 100 unfair cuts in coalition’s first 100 days

The Trades Union Congress has accused the coalition of making 100 “unfair” spending cuts in its first 100 days, hitting vulnerable groups.

As the coalition marked its 100th day in office, the TUC published a series of cuts it had made to services and benefits for vulnerable groups.

These include plans to introduce medical assessments for disability living allowance claimants from 2013, reducing claimant numbers, cuts to housing benefit and moves to reduce the rate at which benefits are uprated each year. All three measures were included in June’s Budget.

The TUC also included expected cuts to the Supporting People programme this year, which would be implemented by local authorities rather than central government.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Before the election we were told that cuts could be achieved through efficiency savings, that the most vulnerable would be protected and front-line services preserved. These pledges have not lasted 100 days.”

The TUC is one of a number of bodies signed up to a “fairness test” under which all tax rises or spending cuts are scrutinised for their impact on levels of inequality.

The TUC’s warning came amid press reports of planned cuts to some welfare benefits for the better-off, such as the winter fuel allowance, which is paid to all pensioners. This is reportedly designed to help work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith fund plans to simplify the benefits system to increase work incentives.

More information

Full list of cuts

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