Blair to reform British welfare system

Britain's prime minister outlines plans Tuesday to reform the country's welfare system, aiming to cut the number of people on benefits and get them into work. The program is a central part of Tony Blair's legislative agenda for his third and final term in office, but it faces opposition from many of his own Labour Party lawmakers.

The government insists that many of the 2.7 million people in Britain claiming incapacity benefits are healthy enough to work, but simply need more support to find a job.

Blair wants to cut the number by around a million over a decade. Critics fear the government is merely concerned with saving money. Under the proposals, claimants will face payment cuts if they do not take advantage of extra help to find work. The most seriously disabled who are deemed unable to work will be exempt from the changes, reports the AP. N.U.