For years, austerity was the hallmark of Conservative governance, a policy that slashed welfare, crippled healthcare, and forced countless families into hardship. Now, Labour stands at the helm, promising economic responsibility. Yet their actions tell a different story: austerity is back, just in a different disguise and a different brand name — "Labour Austerity".
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Recent Labour cuts to benefits have reignited public anger, with many arguing that they mirror the brutality of Tory austerity. Despite rhetoric about protecting the vulnerable, Labour’s welfare reductions—amounting to £4.8 billion in savings, are set to push at least 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.
One of the most damning elements of Labour’s austerity is their attack on disability benefits, tightening eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and making it harder for people with less severe conditions to receive aid. The government’s own impact assessment warns that these measures could worsen the health of disabled people, forcing many to cut back on food, heating, and essential care. Experts have compared these reductions to George Osborne’s £12 billion austerity cuts in 2015, highlighting a pattern of fiscal restraint that ultimately punishes the poorest.
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Discontent within Labour’s own ranks is growing. Dozens of MPs have voiced concerns over the impact of these cuts, warning that they risk deepening poverty rather than alleviating it. Some have privately admitted that the changes could push an additional 250,000 people into relative poverty, a chilling reminder of the suffering caused by previous austerity policies. Despite this, Labour’s leadership insists that their budgetary discipline is necessary, even as backbenchers and disability rights groups sound the alarm.
Kemi Badenoch asks Keir Starmer three times about the two-child benefits cap, to no avail as Starmer avoids the question every time.#PMQs pic.twitter.com/GUf6xjX9u7
— Jam Radio UK News (@Jam_RadioUK) June 4, 2025
Just this week at Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer refused on three occasions to answer, when quizzed by the leader of the opposition if he would keep the two-child benefit cap. Starmer says he is committed to driving down child poverty but continually refused to give a straight answer.
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The parallels between Labour’s approach and the Conservative austerity era are undeniable. Both parties justify welfare cuts as essential for economic stability, yet the consequences remain the same—rising destitution, worsening health outcomes, and a growing number of Britons struggling to survive. Food banks overflow, homelessness rises, and families are left fighting for survival in one of the wealthiest nations on Earth.
Austerity is not simply a policy; it is a political choice. Whether under a Tory or Labour government, it continues to condemn Britain’s most vulnerable to destitution. The question is not whether Labour austerity is different—but why, despite years of warnings and devastating evidence, Britain still accepts a government willing to sacrifice its citizens for the illusion of fiscal responsibility.