Is the British Labour Party still a left-wing party? This question has taken on new weight after Keir Starmer’s government announced a series of highly controversial measures, including cuts to support the most vulnerable to fund defense efforts and adhere to budgetary rules that seem outdated in the face of rising geopolitical threats and the global trade war initiated by Donald Trump.
On March 18, the prime minister, whose party ended 14 years of Conservative rule in July 2024, confirmed a £5 billion (over €5.8 billion) cut in aid to people with disabilities or long-term illnesses. The eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), an allowance granted to people with health issues affecting their daily lives or ability to work, will be tightened.
Indeed, the current situation appears untenable: As of January 31, nearly 3.7 million people were receiving PIP, according to the Ministry of Labor – almost 60% more than in 2020, before the pandemic. “One in 10 people of working age now claiming a sickness or disability benefit. Almost one million young people not in education, employment or training – that’s one in eight of all our young people,” highlighted Minister of Labor Liz Kendall. Without reforms, the cost of health and disability aid will rise from £65 billion to £100 billion by
