A majority of Brits think fat people should not receive some benefits if they do not exercise
Over half (52%) of the British public believe that severely overweight people who refuse to exercise should have some of their benefits stopped, according to our recent survey. This comes after suggestions from Westminster Council that overweight or unhealthy benefit claimants could have their payments cut if they do not participate in exercise programmes.
- 52% of Brits support proposals to stop some benefits for fat people that do not partake in exercise classes, compared to just over a third (35%) who oppose this
Party differences
Conservatives are the most in favour of the Tory council’s suggestions, with two-thirds (67%) saying that overweight people should not receive some benefits if they do not exercise. A majority (56%) of Lib Dems also support this proposal. Meanwhile, Labour Party voters are the most split on the issue, with 47% opposing the plans, and 44% in favour of them.
- Almost seven in ten (67%) Conservative supporters think that some benefits should be stopped for fat people that do not exercise, while a quarter (24%) disagree
- 44% of Labour voters support this proposal, compared to almost half (47%) who oppose it
- Over half (56%) of Lib Dem supporters also believe overweight people should not receive some benefits if they refuse to exercise, but over a third (35%) disagree
Men more in favour
The poll also reveals that men are more likely than women to support Westminster Council’s proposals. A majority (56%) of men believe that some benefits should be stopped for overweight claimants that refuse exercise regimes, compared to less than half (48%) of women.
