There’s no money’.
That always seems to be the current government’s response when asked to tackle the enormous crises affecting the UK.
But as Keir Starmer announces he will ramp up military spending, and as Rachel Reeves plans to slash welfare budgets, we must never forget what impact government funding choices have on the most vulnerable people in society.
As we speak, 4.3 million children in the UK are living in relative poverty. Over 350,000 people are homeless in England.
Millions are worried about the cost of heating their home, braced for yet another hike in energy bills. Meanwhile, billionaires are richer than ever.
So what is the government doing?
They could lift children out of poverty, if they wanted to, by scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
They could help pensioners with energy bills, if they wanted to, by restoring universal winter fuel allowance.
They could ensure nobody had to sleep rough on the streets, if they wanted to, by launching a massive council-house-building programme.
Instead, they have signed off on a 13.4 billion increase in military spending. With that money, the government could scrap the two-child benefit cap 10 times over.
Now, today, we’re told the government is preparing to cut billions from welfare budgets.
No doubt we’ll be told this is another ‘tough choice.’ Just like it was a tough choice to not lift children out of poverty.
Or the tough choices to cut winter fuel allowance, scrapping the £2 bus fare cap, betraying the WASPI women and cutting foreign aid.
Isn’t it strange how the government only cites ‘difficult choices’ when they are harming the most vulnerable, but increasing defence spending is apparently an easy choice to make.
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