Who will bear the brunt of Rishi Sunak’s austerity?
At his first PMQs as leader, Sunak successfully evaded questions on where cuts will fall.
ByAusterity
Austerity is a set of political-economic policies that cut government spending. These polices aim to reducing government budget deficits and the role of the welfare state. In the UK, austerity was most recently implemented from 2010-19 under, respectively, the coalition and Conservative governments, and again in 2021 to the present. Here you can find all of our latest news, analysis and comment about austerity.
There is no mandate for austerity 2.0 – we need a general election now
The 2019 Tory manifesto promises of extra NHS and school funding now read like a joke.
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The market revolt against Liz Truss does not prove that austerity was justified
Far from vindicating the Cameron-Osborne approach, the last few weeks merely prove what a tragic error it was.
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Britain braces itself for the devastation of austerity 2.0
Britons on low incomes dread the Liz Truss government’s “reverse Robin Hood” plan, which prioritises bankers over benefit claimants.
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Who pays for Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng’s mess? Welfare claimants, as always
The government’s giveaway to the rich may be matched by real-terms cuts to benefits for the poorest and most vulnerable.
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The Tories don’t believe in the right to a decent standard of living, says former UN rapporteur
Conservative austerity “formally jettisoned” Britain’s welfare state, says human rights lawyer Philip Alston.
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Welcome to the inferno
This deadly heat is an inevitable consequence of the right’s slash-and-burn approach to climate change.
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Rishi Sunak’s resignation letter heralds the return of austerity
Beware the language of sacrifice from a man wishing to be the next prime minister.
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We’re not all in it together – the cost-of-living crisis is a matter of class
Most of us are having to cut back on our spending. For some this is an inconvenience; for others it…
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Poor kids need full bellies, not more trips to museums
Fanciful chatter about "cultural poverty" obscures material poverty.
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Why there could be trouble ahead for Rishi Sunak
Many Tory MPs are at best uneasy and at worst actively disgusted by much of this Budget.
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How generous was Rishi Sunak’s 2021 Budget and spending review really?
Beneath the surface of headline-grabbing announcements, the long legacy of austerity still cuts deep.
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Will selective austerity continue to work for the Conservatives?
The political approach that has proved lucrative for the Tories over the past decade may not be suited to the…
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Will the £20 Universal Credit cut become Boris Johnson’s government’s worst decision?
From food banks to Whitehall, the New Statesman reports from the front line of a life-changing policy.
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Evening Call: The End of Austerity?
Remember how, in 2010, every department had to agree to swingeing budget cuts? Remember how those cuts predictably ended up…
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What is austerity?
When the government lowers spending during a recession, it's often called "austerity".
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