A new survey suggests that more than half of Brits believe the government should spend more on disability benefits, even if it means higher taxes. The British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey, conducted by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), found that 49% of respondents supported increased funding for disability benefits, compared to just 7% who wanted to see spending reduced. Even among right-leaning voters, support for disability benefits was strong, with 40% in favor of increased spending and only 10% supporting cuts. The findings suggest that any political party proposing cuts to disability benefits could face significant public opposition. The BSA survey, which has tracked public opinion on social and political issues for decades, also examined attitudes toward the National Health Service (NHS). The report compared public sentiment from the time New Labour came to power in 1997 with current views on the NHS. It found that the challenges facing the current Labour government are more significant than those faced by the government led by Sir Tony Blair. This is partly due to factors like an aging population, which has increased pressure on the NHS and social care systems. The most recent BSA survey, based on responses from 3,400 people in the UK, found that public satisfaction with the NHS has declined over time. Only 16% were satisfied with the time it took to get a hospital appointment, and just 14% were happy with the waiting time in Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. Satisfaction with GP appointments was slightly higher at 27%. The report notes that the NHS has faced challenges such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in the proportion of the population aged 65 and over, which has risen from 16% in 1997 to 19% in 2024. Public confidence in the NHS has fluctuated over the years. In 1996, just before New Labour took office, 36% of the public were satisfied with the NHS. This increased to 70% by 2010 when Labour left office. However, by 2023, public satisfaction had dropped to 24%, and in 2025 it stood at 20%. The report also found that concerns about the NHS have broadened, with more people reporting difficulties accessing various services. For example, dissatisfaction with the time it takes to get a GP appointment has risen from 58% in 2023 to 63% in 2025, while satisfaction with GP and hospital services has fallen to 35% and 37%, respectively. Dr. Robert de Vries, a senior lecturer in quantitative sociology at the University of Kent and co-author of the BSA report, noted that despite political divisions on welfare, support for disability benefits remains strong. He emphasized that disabled people are viewed as some of the most deserving recipients of support, making any proposal to cut benefits politically risky across the political spectrum. The government is currently awaiting the final report of Sir Stephen Timms’s review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme. This review was initiated after previous proposals to alter the PIP assessment process were abandoned due to public backlash. In an earlier report, Sir Stephen described the PIP application process as "dehumanising" and "degrading." Reform UK recently announced plans to abolish PIP and the health component of Universal Credit for working-age adults. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has stated it will "urgently reassess" all mild PIP claims for conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. The BSA survey also found that voters from Reform UK and the Conservative Party are more likely to support reducing benefits for disabled people who cannot work, with 7% of Tory voters and 11% of Reform UK voters in favor of such cuts. Danielle Jefferies, co-author of the report and senior analyst at The King’s Fund, highlighted that the current NHS challenges are both broader and more complex than those faced by New Labour. She noted that public confidence has taken longer to build and that funding is now more constrained. A government spokesperson emphasized that they have been working to address rising costs and poor outcomes in the NHS by extending award review periods, increasing face-to-face assessments, and supporting sick or disabled people into work with a £3.5 billion investment. The final recommendations from the Timms and Milburn reviews, expected this autumn, will help shape long-term, sustainable reforms.