In the UK, activists protest controversial mandatory work scheme

To cut its national debt, the UK government has pledged to reduce the amount it spends on the welfare state. Last week, Britain’s equivalent of Treasury Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced major cuts to benefits for the unemployed, the sick and people with disabilities. The Government is also trying to get people off benefits and back into work with a controversial series of mandatory work schemes, called Workfare. Since the schemes were introduced last year, tens of thousands of unemployed people have completed unpaid work placements for businesses and charities in return for their benefits. Over the weekend, anti-workfare protests were held in eight cities. FSRN’s Tom Allan went to one and files this report.