Food Vouchers are widely used in the US instead of cash, so that is where that idea comes from.
It is a fact that Govt “policy” is leaked to see how everyone reacts.
It is a concern if the changes are implemented. But Whitehall are trying to save money, it doesnt matter who is in power.
They have an extremely compliant population, as observed by the recent disruption, which was quickly put down by swift and brutal judiciary decisions.