What benefits are being cut and will reforms get passed?

Keir Starmer has used a weekly meeting of his MPs to strengthen support for a series of reforms to social security designed to get people who want to work back into the economy, improving their quality of life and, not least, also aimed at shaving about £5bn off the total bill of £65bn for working-age benefits (ie, excluding the much larger cost of the old age pension).

- SEAN O'GRADY

Demographics mean that that total will rise to some £100bn by the end of the decade – about double the defence budget, which most people wish to see increased.

The government needs to get reforms underway that will help the chancellor meet her targets for public borrowing – the fiscal rules. Her spring statement on 26 March will thus be crucial for the government to improve its fiscal performance, retain market confidence and avoid a crisis.

Where will the cuts fall?

Reportedly, in two areas: the greater part of the £5bn will be recovered by reducing outlays for in-work benefits for those who are long-term sick and people with disabilities, while the rest will be found by moving young people not in education, employment or training off any benefits they’re entitled to and into more productive uses of their time.

How many are affected?