After over a decade of Tory-imposed austerity, the impact lingers into 2024, despite Labour’s efforts to repair the damage. The scars left behind are deep, affecting nearly every facet of British life.
1. Life Expectancy Shortfall
Austerity has contributed to nearly 190,000 excess deaths between 2010 and 2019, according to the London School of Economics. Even as Labour ramps up healthcare funding, the decade-long damage to life expectancy persists, especially in the hardest-hit areas like the North East.
2. Social Care Collapse
Social care funding remains stretched despite Labour’s promises to address it. The system is still reeling from years of cuts, with more than 57,000 deaths linked to austerity-era reductions in social care. Labour’s newly pledged £2.5 billion for social care is just the start of fixing the mess.
3. Crisis in Children’s Services
Years of underfunding have decimated children’s services, leaving neurodivergent children and those with disabilities with inadequate support. Labour’s recent pledge to reinvest £1 billion into these services is a step forward, but recovery will take years.
4. Mental Health Services in Shambles
Mental health services have yet to recover from a decade of Tory cuts, which created longer waiting times and reduced access. While Labour has committed to increasing mental health funding by £500 million, the impact of austerity still looms large.
5. Ambulance Response Times Remain Critical
Ambulance response times remain at dangerously slow levels after years of austerity-driven underfunding. Labour has prioritised improving emergency services, but the delay in reforms means that the NHS is still struggling to meet demand.
6. Neurodivergent Children Left Behind
Neurodivergent children continue to suffer from the lack of specialised support, despite Labour’s £1 billion pledge to boost services. Parents report that even in 2024, accessing necessary care remains a bureaucratic nightmare.
7. Homelessness Crisis Endures
Homelessness remains a growing issue, despite Labour’s renewed efforts to address it. The fallout from Tory-era cuts to housing benefits has led to a continued rise in rough sleepers, and Labour’s housing policies are only just beginning to tackle the problem.
8. Disabled People Still Struggling
Disabled people remain among the most affected by austerity, with cuts to disability benefits still causing widespread suffering. Labour’s plans to reform the benefits system are in progress, but for many, the damage has already been done.
9. Domestic Violence Services in Ruins
Despite Labour’s promises to restore funding, domestic violence services are still reeling from years of cuts. Thousands of women and children continue to be turned away from shelters due to lack of capacity, and the recovery of these services is slow.
10. Food Insecurity Remains High
Food bank usage is still at record levels, with Labour’s cost-of-living policies struggling to make an immediate impact. The Trussell Trust continues to report high demand for food parcels, particularly in areas hardest hit by austerity.
11. Unemployment Benefits Remain Inadequate
Labour has increased unemployment benefits, but the damage done by years of cuts still lingers. Many claimants are only now beginning to recover from the financial hardship inflicted by austerity, and poverty rates remain stubbornly high.
12. Public Health Crisis
Austerity led to a significant decline in public health, with preventable diseases on the rise. Labour’s new public health initiatives are starting to make a difference, but years of neglect mean that the NHS is still playing catch-up.
13. Carers Left Unsupported
Family carers continue to bear the brunt of caring responsibilities, with many still receiving inadequate support despite Labour’s new investment in social care. Carers UK has warned that years of cuts have left many carers in crisis.
14. Legal Aid Dismantled
Legal aid services remain underfunded, even as Labour attempts to reverse years of cuts. The justice system is still grappling with the consequences, with thousands unable to access proper legal representation.
15. Police Underfunded and Overstretched
Years of underfunding have left police forces understaffed and overworked, leading to rising crime rates. Labour has pledged to restore funding, but communities are still feeling the impact of Tory cuts.
16. Schools Still Underfunded
Schools continue to suffer from the effects of austerity, with class sizes larger and resources stretched thin. Labour’s £4 billion education investment is a welcome move, but it will take time to undo the damage of the past decade.
17. Pensioner Poverty Persists
Despite Labour’s efforts to increase state pensions, pensioner poverty remains a significant issue, particularly in areas hardest hit by austerity. Many elderly Britons are still struggling to afford basic necessities.
18. Disability Benefits Lagging
Disability benefits have been slow to recover after years of cuts, and Labour’s recent reforms are only just beginning to address the backlog of claims. Disabled people continue to face financial hardship due to the legacy of austerity.
19. Refugee Services Overwhelmed
Refugee and asylum services are still struggling to cope after years of underfunding. Labour’s new immigration policies aim to provide better support, but the system remains overwhelmed by the demand.
20. Tories Still Doing Just Fine
While ordinary Britons continue to suffer the effects of austerity, many former Tory ministers thrive in lucrative private sector roles. The contrast between the comfortable lives of those who imposed austerity and the hardships millions face is stark.
Is This the End of Austerity?
Labour is making progress, but the damage done by over a decade of cuts cannot be undone overnight. How much longer will it take to repair the broken system truly? And will the public ever see justice for the harm inflicted by austerity?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Aidan Calderbank.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
The images used are for illustrative purposes only and may not represent the actual people or places mentioned in the article.