Even if job-seekers benefits, in-work benefits and disability support benefits were cut to zero, there would be only a short-term gain as more than 50% of state welfare spend is on pensions and this will continue to increase both as a percentage and as a cost.

Secondly, without a commitment to egalitarian wealth/income redistribution universal high wages will not happen - the economy would not sustain in.

Thirdly, virtually all state welfare payment is 'spent' - a proportion is recycled back to the exchequer through indirect taxes, the rest trickles up to those who own capital - landlords, shareholders, corporations - and a proportion of this is retained to prop individual wealth up further - thus the living wage vs tax credit debate, and the believe by the hard right that by cutting the safety net, the trickle-down effect will fulfill this function.