Austerity is a set of political-economic policies that aim to reduce government budget deficits through spending cuts, tax increases, or a combination of both. Austerity measures are often used by governments that find it difficult to borrow or meet their existing obligations to pay back loans.
Britain was no exception to the global recession of 2008 that took a heavy toll on most countries. Financial instability and banking crises left many in an unceasing anxiety about how they would afford to live. In 2010, the coalition government replaced the labour party and Prime Minister David Cameron appointed George Osbourne as Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was his idea to impose measures of Austerity onto the nation.
The austerity programme included reductions in welfare spending, the cancellation of school building programs, reductions in local government funding, and an increase in VAT. Spending on the police, courts and prisons was also reduced. Child Poverty has become an increasing problem that is often blamed on austerity, with the number of children living under these circumstances rising by 800,000 to a total of 3.5 million children living in 'relative poverty'.
The most controversial system produced as a consequence of austerity was the Work Capability Assessment. It is the test used by the British Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to decide whether welfare claimants are entitled to Employment Support Allowance (ESA), or more recently, the limited capacity for work component of Universal Credit (UC). It caused much controversy as much of the the questions on the assessment actually assessed an individuals capability in the home. Additionally, it is also believed to be unfair on people with mental health disabilities, with some sources stating: 'The work capability assessment process is deeply unfair for people with a mental illness – it's like asking someone in a wheelchair to walk to the assessment centre."
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