Recently, the British Government announced a devastating £5 billion cut to disability and unemployment benefits. These are the largest welfare cuts announced by the British Government since the introduction of the current phase of austerity by the Conservatives almost 15 years ago.
The biggest cut is expected to affect Personal Independence Payments (PIP), with the criteria being significantly tightened. The criteria has already been repeatedly tightened over a number of years. The result is that many people who are unable to work and who need assistance with carrying out basic, everyday tasks will now be face even more obstacles to getting help.
While the payment is just £72.65 per week, this is a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable people in our society, who are at risk of even more hardship.
On top of this, it was also announced that from next year, the Universal Credit payment for those living with a disability or health condition will be frozen until at least 2029. It will be cut by almost half for new claimants and people younger than 22 could be prevented from claiming altogether. By no longer increasing the payments in line with inflation, the Labour Party have effectively announced four years of cuts to Universal Credit.
This decision will have severe consequences for those in the Six Counties. Around 218,000 people are estimated to be claiming disability benefits, and more than 18,000 people aged 18-24 are thought to be claiming PIP.
It is estimated that at least 70,000 families in the Six Counties will lose out, in the midst of a years long cost of living crisis. Many of these people whose payments will be cut or stopped face being forced into work, at risk to their health, or face the dire circumstances that come from poverty.
With over 349,000 people in the Six Counties already living in poverty we can only expect this number to rise. The new criteria will force between 23-35,000 people into work who are unable to. This is in addition to the 48,000 people who are currently unemployed and looking for work, although some estimates suggest this could be up to three times higher.
Once again, we see proof that no matter which party is in power, the capitalist system continues to target the most vulnerable people in our society. The accumulation of ever increasing profits is all the system demands.
Whether those in Downing Street are Tory or Labour is not important. Both parties worship and continue to serve the interests of capitalism and imperialism.
It is no coincidence that these cuts come just weeks after £1.6 billion was found to purchase missiles for Ukraine. This money will be given to Thales here in Belfast to fund the production of more than 5,000 missiles. In January, Keir Starmer signed an agreement to indefinitely give £3 billion a year to defence contractors in Britain.
Lasair Dhearg has always believed that it is only through the establishment of Socialist Republic in Ireland, that we can truly safeguard the most vulnerable in our society, free from the effects of partition and exploitation. Time and time again we see that the Capitalist system is incapable of reform and needs to be dismantled down to its very core. Only then can true economic and social equality be achieved.
It’s Time for a Socialist Republic!
