accumulation by dispossession 17–20, 156–63, 167
activism
on dispossession 160
on fuel poverty 101, 102, 103, 106, 106n1
treatment of as terrorism 211–15
‘alchemy of austerity’ 7
Arendt, Hannah 24
Ark, The (informal settlement) 203–9
ATOS 18
austerity
asylum seekers, impact on 68, 69–70, 71–2, 219
children, impact on 13, 85–91, 94–5, 96–7
criminal justice system and 188–93, 195–201
debt/debtfare and 110–11, 114–15, 165–6
definition 4
disabled people, impact on 14, 15, 37, 38–40, 51–6, 88, 219–20, 221
environmental policy and 149–50, 152–3, 157–60, 163
fuel poverty and 101, 104, 106
homelessness/evictions and 164–8, 171–6, 203–9
mortality/premature deaths from 2–3, 44–9, 52–4, 221; suicides 35–41, 52–4, 80, 167–8
as narrative 20, 22–3, 144, 158, 175–6
narratives about 5–15; all in this together’ 7–8, 10–15, 22–3, 85; as only choice 8–10, 114, 181, 186; as technocratic decision 181, 182, 186; victim blaming 52, 75–6, 90–1, 95, 217–22
national debt increase during 17
Northern Ireland, impact on 123, 125–9
social protection cuts 134, 135–9, 141–7
the unemployed and 39–40, 59–65, 75–80, 218–19
as violence 3–4, 23–4, 49, 85, 173
worker exploitation and 59–65, 219, 221
Barnet Council 138
Barroso, José Manuel 150
Barton Moss Community Protection Camp 161–2
bedroom tax 13, 14, 165, 166, 168
benefits cuts
deaths from 37, 38–41, 52–6, 65, 103–4, 167–8, 221
debt as result of 110–11, 114–15
disabled people, impact on 37, 38–9, 40, 51–6, 88, 221
evictions/homelessness, impact on 164–6, 167–8
food poverty as result of 96
mental health, impact of 37–41
Work Capability Assessments 37, 38–40, 51, 52–3, 55, 221
see also sanctions
Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) 137–8
Blair/Brown governments
bank bailouts 7
disabled, targeting of by 52
fiscal rules of 184
fiscal spending of 5
lone parents, targeting of 88
migration policies 218
prison system and 200
social protection cuts 135, 137
Tory policies and 113
workfare and 59
Boycott Workfare (NGO) 59
Branas, Charles 36
Brown, Gordon 5, 134 see also Blair/Brown governments
budget cuts
distribution of 11–12, 20–2, 118–19, 135, 185
homelessness/evictions, impact on 164–6, 167–8, 173–6, 204–5
inequality and 11–15, 22–3, 85, 118, 127–8
by May government 1, 10, 51–2, 91
for mental health services 38
Northern Ireland, impact on 125–9
social protection and 133–9, 141–7
see also benefits cuts; specific demographic group or category
Burnley Council 138
business
diversion of blame from 6
impact of financial crisis on 20
Calais, securitisation of 70, 71
Cameron, David
on causes of financial crisis 5
on the environment 105, 149, 157, 158, 159, 163
on health and safety 144
mortality rates and 49
see also Coalition government
Capita 138
capitalism and dispossession 157–8, 160, 162–3
care sector 21
Carré, Stephen 55
Chakrabortty, Aditya 18
fuel poverty and 101
in Northern Ireland 126
Clapp, Richard 143
Coalition government
austerity narratives of 5, 7, 8, 10, 22–3, 114
disabled people, impact on 14, 18, 37–40, 45, 51–6, 88, 219–20, 221
elderly, impact on 21, 44, 45–9
environmental policies 149–50, 151–2, 157, 158–9
homelessness/evictions, impact on 165–8, 172–4, 203–5
law, entrenchment of austerity in 184–5
mortality/premature deaths during 38–41, 44–9, 52–4, 167–8, 221
Northern Ireland, impact on 125–9
pro-rich policies 11–12, 18–19
social protections, rolling back of 135–9, 144–7
the unemployed, targeting of 37, 38–40, 75–80, 217–18
vulnerable people, targeting of 21
Collins, Patricia Hill 120
conditionality see sanctions; workfare
Conservative government (2015–16) 152–3
Conservative Party see Coalition government; May government
cost of living see inflation
council tax benefit 86
counter-terrorism, extension of to activism 211–15
Crewe, Tom 21
criminal justice system 188–93
cuts in spending see budget cuts
Daily Express 217
debt and debtfare 110–15, 165–6
debt to GDP ratio 9–10, 184, 185
Depression Alliance 37
depression and mental health see mental health
deregulation 6, 133–9, 141–7, 149–53
detention centres, for asylum seekers 70, 71
Diamond, Bob 6
Dill, Paul 106
Dilworth, Nick 37
Disability Hate Crime Network 219
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 52
hate crimes against 15, 219–20
privatisation of services and 18
punitive regime for 88
targeting of 14, 39, 52, 219–20
Work Capability Assessments 37, 38–40, 51, 52–3, 55, 221
Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) 55, 219
dispossession 17–20, 156–63, 167
DNS (Disability News Service) 52, 54
drug dealing 80
DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) 129
DWP (Department of Work and Pensions) 52–3, 54, 55, 88–9, 104, 115
Eastern Europeans, targeting of 217–22
economic policy see austerity; budget cuts; taxes
EDF workers 102
electricity prices 102–3, 105 see also fuel poverty
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) 52, 53, 55
enclosure 159
energy companies 19, 102–4, 107n6
energy prices 11 see also fuel poverty
Engels, Friedrich 133
Environment Agency 21
environmental policies
loosening of protections 133–9, 149–53
European Union (EU) 150–1, 181, 182–4
Eurostat 87
evictions 164–8, 203–9 see also homelessness
expansionary fiscal consolidation 4–5
exploitation 59–65, 110, 158, 219
Ferns, Joe 40
financial crisis (2007/2008) 5–10, 20, 113–14, 146
financial sector
diversion of blame from 6
impact of financial crisis on 20
financialisation 20
Firminger, Nygell 168
fiscal policy see austerity; budget cuts; taxes
‘flexible’ workforce see precarious workers/work
food in prisons 199
Fresh Start Agreement 123, 126
FTSE 250
share values 20
Fuel Poverty Action 101, 103, 106, 106n1
G20 London protests 214
gas prices 102–3 see also fuel poverty
Good Friday Agreement 123, 124
Goodwin, Fred 6
Gove, Michael 191
Grayling, Chris 55
Great Financial Crisis (GFC) 5–10, 20, 113–14, 146
Green Party (Northern Ireland) 125
Grendon Underwood prison 200
Haarde, Geir 25
Halewood, Joe 13
Hampton, Philip 134
Harrington, Malcolm 55
Hazards Campaign 142, 143, 147
Health and Safety Executive 21, 142, 143, 146
health and safety regulations 62–5, 133–9, 141–7
health inequalities 96–7, 101, 172
heating see fuel poverty
HMRC 115
Hoban, Mark 146
homelessness 171–6, 203–9, 220
Hopkins, Kris 9
housing
budget cuts, impact of 8–9, 12–13, 164–9
environmental policy and 152–3
homelessness 171–6, 203–9, 220
social housing 12–13, 14, 105, 164–5, 167
incapacity benefit (IB) 52
income
declining wages 11, 12, 95–6, 110–11
inequality of 11, 12, 13, 86, 114
inequality
budget cuts and 11–15, 22–3, 85, 118, 127–8
health inequalities 45–9, 89–90, 97, 101
income and 11, 12, 13, 86, 114
power distribution and 104, 110, 112, 114–15
taxation and 11
inflation 11, 95–6, 102–3, 113
influenza, narratives about 44–5, 47–8
informal economy 80
Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) 54, 95
institutions, role of 3
interest rates 113
Jamaica, detention centres in 70
job insecurity see precarious workers
job-seekers 77–80 see also unemployed people
justice system 71–2, 188–93, 204–6
Kane, Alan 207
Kerr, Will 128
Kingsnorth power station 214–15
Krugman, Paul 20
Labour Party see Blair/Brown government
laws, to entrench austerity 181–7
LGBTQ people, violence against 67, 72, 221
Liberal Democrats see Coalition government
life expectancy 89–90 see also mortality and premature deaths
local government, as target of cuts 21, 22, 86, 114, 135–8, 185, 186
London, gentrification in 167, 188, 191
Long, Naomi 129
Loopstra, Rachel 96
Major/Thatcher governments 5, 59, 112
malnutrition 96–7 see also food in prisons; food poverty
Manchester
anti-fracking protests in 161–2
evictions of homeless in 203–9
marketisation see privatisation
Marx, Karl 157
Maximus 18
May government
budget cuts by 1, 10, 51–2, 91
environmental policies 153, 158
fiscal rules and 185
narratives vs reality 10, 65, 91
workfare and 65
working conditions, lowering of 141–2
McCormack, Frances 168
McKee, Martin 48
McMurtry, John 17
McNally, David 7
media, victim blaming by 217
Mendoza, Kerry-Anne 14
benefits cuts/sanctions and 37, 38–41, 52–6, 88, 104, 167–8
debt and 112
fuel poverty and 102
homelessness and 172
unemployment and 35, 36, 39–40, 80
working conditions and 142, 144
see also suicides
Mind (charity) 38
modern slavery see workfare
mortality and premature deaths among children 89–90
among disabled people 40, 52–4, 221
fuel poverty and 101, 103–4, 106n1
homelessness and 172
social murder 133
suicides 2, 35–41; among prisoners 188, 196–7; benefits cuts and 37, 38–41, 52–6, 65, 167–8; debt and 112; energy companies and 102; working conditions and 65, 142
MP expenses 27n23
national debt 9–10, 17, 184, 185
neoliberalism
austerity as strategy for 16, 20, 22, 144
law, entrenchment of in 182
state intervention in 160
Neville, Angela 37
New Labour see Blair/Brown governments
North Tyneside Council 138
nuclear power 105
occupational health and safety see health and safety laws
Occupy movement 12, 211, 212–13
Offender Rehabilitation Act 189–91
O’Hara, Mary 19
online job searching 79
Osborne, George
2010 budget of 51
austerity narratives of 7, 8, 10, 208–9
fracking promotion by 158
see also Coalition government
O’Sullivan, Michael 40
outsourcing 138 see also privatisation
Pat’s Petition campaign 55
Pendleton, Andrew 19
personal income tax allowance 86
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) 52
petitions 55
Pickard, David 102
Pickering, Sharon 71
police
as agents of state repression 160–2, 167, 168, 211–15
Pollard, John 112
poverty
among asylum seekers 68
among children 13, 85–91, 94–5, 96–7, 101, 126
among ethnic minorities 118
homelessness and 171
mental health and 35–6, 38–9, 88
Poverty and Social Exclusion studies (PSE) 86, 94, 96, 97, 128
power asymmetries 104, 110, 112, 114–15
precarious workers/work 12, 78, 95, 118–19, 144, 219, 221–2
prepayment meters (PPM) 103
Primary Authority (PA) scheme 137–8
Prison Reform Trust 189
privatisation
as dispossession 17–18, 158, 159
of public transport 77
of regulations 138
protests 161–2, 205–6, 211–15 see also activism
Psychologists Against Austerity 39
Public Health England report 45–6
public sector workers 14, 20, 118–19, 127
redistribution
debt as means of 114
dispossession as means of 17–20, 157–63
Remploy 18
renewable energy 104, 105, 106
Robinson, Peter 129
Royal Mail privatisation 18
sanctions
against EU countries 183
exploitation of workers and 61, 62, 63, 65
homelessness resulting from 173
against Northern Ireland 125–6
privatised probation and 190
as punitive regime 37, 53, 75–6, 78–80, 88
Sane (charity) 37
Sayer, Andrew 16
Scotland, rising mortality rates in 46
Scott, David 198
SDLP 125
security sector 19
self-employed workers 146
shale gas producers 19
share values 20
Sinn Féin 125
slavery see workfare
social care 45
social exclusion 97
social housing
bedroom tax 13, 14, 165, 166, 168
communal heating on 105
evictions from 167
social murder 133
social protection 133–9, 141–7
Sowell, Thomas 16
Sparham-Price, Kane 112
Spartacus 55
Spearhead areas 46
spending cuts see budget cuts
St Andrews Agreement 125
state intervention and neoliberalism 160–3
state violence 160–3, 167, 195–201, 206–9, 221–2
stock market 20
Stormont House Agreement 123, 125–7
Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) 125–8
benefits cuts/sanctions and 37, 38–41, 52–6, 65, 167–8
debt and 112
energy companies and 102
rise in since financial crash 2
working conditions and 65, 142
Sun newspaper 217
taxes
bedroom tax 13, 14, 165, 166, 168
HMRC errors 115
personal allowance 86
reductions in 95; for corporations 18–19; for rich individuals 11
Taylor, Ben 204
temporary work see precarious work
Tepe-Belfrage, Daniela 14
terrorists, treatment of activists as 211–15
Thatcher/Major governments 5, 59, 112
Thomas, Carita 204
Tomlinson, Ian 214
Trade Union Act (2016) 141
unemployed people
degradation of 39–40, 59–65, 75–80, 218–19, 220
narratives on 75–6, 78–80, 218–19
United Nations (UN) 8–9, 55, 85
urban redevelopment 167, 188, 191
utility prices 11 see also fuel poverty
violence
austerity as 3–4, 23–4, 49, 85, 173
debt and 110
deregulation as 142
food poverty as 94
normalisation of 3–4, 24, 217–22
in prisons 188–9, 190, 195–201
by the state 160–3, 167, 195–201, 206–9, 221–2
wages (real), decline in 11, 12, 95–6, 110–11
War on Terror, extension of to activism 211–15
water bills 11
water pollution 156
Waters, Anthony 102
wealth 11
Weber, Leanne 71
Webster, David 62
welfare-to-work policies 18 see also sanctions; Work Capability Assessments; workfare
women
austerity’s double-impact on 14
crimes against 221
criminal justice system and 188–93
pregnancy and poverty 89
targeting of 14
Wood, Mark 38
Work Capability Assessments 37, 38–40, 51, 52–3, 55, 221
workers
exploitation of 18, 59–65, 76, 219, 221
precarious work 12, 78, 95, 118–19, 144, 219, 221–2
rights and conditions of 60–5, 141–7
wages (real), decline in 11, 12, 95–6, 110–11
see also unemployed people
World Bank 16
WOW (War On Welfare) campaign 55
Younger Review 145