Dear Editor
“Complacency” is the word that shines throughout James Cartlidge’s
article (SFP, ‘Outlay owes debt to austerity’, 17 Oct 2019).
Austerity was always a political choice driven by the Tory ideology of
minimising the support provided by the State in the name of reducing the
allegedly “bloated welfare bill”. What he fails to acknowledge is that
austerity measures fell disproportionally on the poor and vulnerable and,
especially, the disabled.
If the Tories were put in the dock they would be found guilty of the
destruction of the rights, dignity, independence and mental health of too many
of Britain’s 14 million disabled citizens. Last year, 4 million disabled
people were living below the breadline.
Mr Cartlidge boasts of the latest Tory largesse outlined in the recent
budget but fails to say that these paltry measures hardly blunt the deep cuts
that his party have made over the last ten years. For example, since
2010, social security benefits will have been cut by £35bn a year. Meanwhile
Tory tax cuts will cost the Treasury £47bn per year by 2021-2. Lucky rich
people!
The poor and vulnerable are entitled to better lives in a more humane,
compassionate society than that which we currently have under a Tory
government.
Yours sincerely
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