BRITAIN'S “consciously cruel” welfare system is failing to provide social security, stripping people of their dignity, ruining lives, and breaching international obligations, according to a damning new report.

Speaking to more than 700 people who claim welfare supports, Amnesty UK's Social Insecurity report found: “Universal credit, disability social security schemes, carer’s allowance, and support for asylum-seekers remain particularly inadequate, failing to meet minimum thresholds for a dignified standard of living.”

It continued: “It is clear that policies like social security freezes, caps, and deductions, removal of the spare room subsidy (bedroom tax) and two-child limit have deepened poverty and disproportionately harmed children, disabled individuals and low-income families.”