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As the UK government prepares to deliver the Spring Statement, we must judge it by one key question: will it support people—or abandon them?
Too often, budgets and statements prioritise cuts over care, pushing people further into hardship. Here’s what we need to keep in mind:
Welfare is not a luxury – it’s a lifeline.
Social security exists to support people through difficult times—whether due to illness, disability, job loss, or low wages. Cutting support doesn’t create a fairer society; it leaves millions struggling to afford the basics.
Poverty isn’t a policy success – it’s a political choice.
When governments cut welfare, they push more people into hardship, forcing families to choose between heating and eating. This isn’t about ‘incentivising work’—it’s about forcing people to accept low wages and insecure jobs.
Cutting welfare shifts the burden elsewhere.
Slashing benefits doesn’t erase the need for support. It simply increases demand for the NHS, housing assistance, and social care. The cost of cuts doesn’t disappear—it’s just paid for elsewhere, often at a greater expense.
Welfare cuts don’t boost the economy – they harm it.
Less money in people’s pockets means less spending in local shops and businesses, leading to weaker economic growth. A strong welfare system isn’t just about fairness—it’s about supporting a healthy, functioning economy.
Austerity doesn’t fix deficits – it worsens them.
Cutting support doesn’t ‘balance the books’—it reduces consumer spending, shrinks tax revenues, and makes it harder to fund public services. Austerity has been tried before, and it failed. We can’t afford to repeat the same mistakes.
Fair societies invest in people, not punish them.
A country’s strength isn’t measured by how much it cuts from welfare, but by how well it supports its people. A fair society ensures everyone has the security to thrive, not just survive.
As the Spring Statement approaches, let’s be clear: we need policies that protect people, not punish them.
