Austerity Bites 10 Years On: A Journey to the Sharp End of Cuts in the UK

by Mary O'Hara

Overview

Austerity has proven deadly. Over the last decade, the damage caused by austerity measures in the UK has had a long-lasting and profound effect on many lives. The first edition of Austerity Bites offered on-the-ground reportage of one of the most significantly regressive economic strategies of any post-war government. Over a year Mary O’Hara toured the UK to gauge the immediate impact – and expectations of people affected – and found many clinging to the hope that austerity cuts would not last long as the damage became increasingly apparent. Alas, this was not how things unfolded.

Instead, much of the Welfare State had its vital support systems systematically undermined. The public sector, including the NHS, is now on its knees. Schools are buckling under multiple structural and budgetary pressures. Councils – even big ones – are going broke. Homelessness is rampant.

While Brexit, the pandemic, and war have no doubt impacted the economic health of the country, previous austerity cuts left the UK less prepared to weather such extraordinary events.

With new commentary, Austerity Bites 10 Years On assesses on the true scale of the damage these policies have inflicted on the country’s most vulnerable groups, public institutions and on the wider society. It reflects on where we have been, where we are now and what needs to happen next to undo the damage and avoid the same mistakes again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447374527
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	10/22/2024
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	406
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mary O’Hara is an award-winning journalist, author and producer specializing in social justice. Her journalism has appeared in publications including The Guardian, Community Living magazine, Byline Times and others. She is the author of two books: The Shame Game: Overturning the toxic poverty narrative (2020) & Austerity Bites: A journey to the sharp end of cuts in the UK (2014) and has contributed to many others. She is founder of the multi-platform anti-poverty storytelling initiative, Project Twist-It and chair of The David Nobbs Memorial Trust. Mary is also a podcast and audiobook producer and a Fulbright Scholar. She is a three-time winner of the award for Best Foreign Columnist at the Southern California Journalism Awards.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

A note on the 10th Anniversary Edition

Foreword to the 10th Anniversary Edition

Preface to the 10th Anniversary Edition

Preface to the 2015 Paperback Edition

Introduction

Essay 1: Heat or Eat

Chapter 1: Money’s too tight to mention

Essay 2: All Pain, No Gain: The Rise and Rise of Poverty in the UK

Chapter 2: The Big Squeeze

Essay 3: Double Trouble: The Cost of Living Crisis and Austerity

Chapter 3: Welcome to 'Wongaland'

Essay 4: Shame on You: Austerity and the Toxic Poverty Narrative

Chapter 4: Work Maketh the Person

Essay 5: Fear Factor: Enshrining a Benefits System Unfit for Purpose

Chapter 5: All Work and No Pay

Essay 6: Death by a Thousand Cuts: The Disproportionate Harm of Austerity

Chapter 6: Bearing the Brunt

Essay 7: There is Nothing to Fear but Austerity Itself.

Chapter 7: A Life Lived in Fear is a Life Half Lived

Conclusion

Afterword to the 2015 Paperback Edition

Afterword to the 10th Anniversary Edition

Notes

Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"For most of our media, entrenched poverty is a second- or third-order issue; for Mary O’Hara it is the most urgent story of our time and our nation and she tells it brilliantly." Melissa Benn, writer, teacher, campaigner “The scars of austerity are seen across the UK today in broken infrastructure, shoddy housing, collapsing schools and much diminished lives. Mary O’Hara shows us how Osborne’s austerity policies broke Britain and the most telling growth numbers today are the number of billionaires and food bank users. That is the true legacy of austerity.” Mark Blyth, Brown University“O'Hara brings her journalist skills and burning anger to bear on 'the staggering damage' done by austerity – a political choice.” Professor the Baroness (Ruth) Lister of Burtersett

“Commanding, crucial reportage that reveals the devastating human cost of pernicious government policy – a rallying cry to prevent further harm.” Saba Salman, social affairs journalist and author "A savage analysis of how this cruel and inhumane policy has devastated the UK's most vulnerable communities." Stu Hennigan, author of Ghost Signs: Poverty and the Pandemic

“This new book will echo within my work, and be a clarion for change. Mary is a G for this!!” Conrad Murray, writer and musician

Editorial Reviews

"For most of our media, entrenched poverty is a second- or third-order issue; for Mary O’Hara it is the most urgent story of our time and our nation and she tells it brilliantly." Melissa Benn, writer, teacher, campaigner

“The scars of austerity are seen across the UK today in broken infrastructure, shoddy housing, collapsing schools and much diminished lives. Mary O’Hara shows us how Osborne’s austerity policies broke Britain and the most telling growth numbers today are the number of billionaires and food bank users. That is the true legacy of austerity.” Mark Blyth, Brown University

“O'Hara brings her journalist skills and burning anger to bear on the staggering damage done by austerity – a political choice.” Professor the Baroness Ruth Lister of Burtersett

“Commanding, crucial reportage that reveals the devastating human cost of pernicious government policy – a rallying cry to prevent further harm.” Saba Salman, journalist and author

"A savage analysis of how this cruel and inhumane policy has devastated the UK's most vulnerable communities." Stu Hennigan, author of Ghost Signs: Poverty and the Pandemic

“This new book will echo within my work, and be a clarion for change. Mary is a G for this!!” Conrad Murray, writer and musician

From the Publisher