The Big Issue asked for my views on potential welfare cuts. This is what I said:

“You cannot escape the fact that after 50 years of neoliberalism, a decade of deep austerity, and then Covid, our social infrastructure has collapsed. Is it any wonder that so many people are experiencing debilitating ill health? Is it any wonder that people, who feel betrayed and let down, are turning to ever more extreme political movements?”

“If a government drives people who are unwell into exploitative and insecure work, the illness doesn’t go away. We will just see more people on waiting lists, more people visiting food banks, and more people pushed into services that are past breaking point.”

“For too many people, work is exploitative and doesn’t help make ends meet. The TUC found 1 in 6 workers are forced to skip meals, and many use food banks.”

“Our first priority should be to sort out the jobs market. The Employment Bill needs time to bed in, and then perhaps we can look to go further on workers’ rights. At the same time, we need to rebuild the social safety net, so people are healthy and feel secure – access to GPs, affordable childcare, affordable bills, these all play a role.”

Read the full article here.