Page 11 - CL winter 2023 for web

cost of living

experience and that we are all in
it together.
Just like with austerity, this is a
fallacy. Again, the wealthy are
shielded while the least well off,
including people with learning
disabilities, stand to be in the line
of fire for any further cuts. The
reality is that any rise in the cost of
essentials or cuts to public spending
hit those on lower incomes.
On top of this, the anticipated
recessionary job losses will cause
people to lose work and, with
it, independence.
There are growing concerns, too,
regarding social care. Residential
care – a sector already pummelled
by years of austerity and the
pandemic – faces a fresh set of
threats including from soaring
utility bills and staff shortages, both
of which are adding to the
pressures inherited from years of
inadequate funding.
Care workers in poverty No to austerity: cuts disproportionately affect people with disabilities and those who support them
Meanwhile, care workers are
grappling with living in poverty as An example is prime minister
the cost of living is set to accelerate. Framing this calamity as a cost-of-living Rishi Sunak’s November
A recent Health Foundation crisis suggests an evenly distributed, declaration that we cannot
study found that more than one in expect the government to “fix
four UK residential care workers unavoidable experience. As with everyone’s problems”.
were living in poverty. austerity, this is a fallacy But, if a government is not there
“Nearly one in 10 experienced to fix problems, what is it for?
food insecurity,” it reported. We need to be clear that cuts to
People with learning disabilities vital services are not a necessity.
should be a top priority, not an Astronomical energy bills are not
all-too-easily ignored section of However, this is a sticking plaster unfixable. Governments can choose
society. Additional support – not – it doesn’t fix systemic problems. to invest in services and to tax
less – should be put forward by It is incumbent on everyone, energy companies’ excess profits.
ministers as a matter of urgency so especially those of us working in the With the crisis rapidly worsening,
people are protected and not left to media, to highlight what is at stake many charities are offering advice
bear the brunt. if more cuts are in the pipeline. and guidance for people with
The simple fact is that we cannot It is now three years since my last learning disabilities and their
afford to repeat the mistakes of book, The Shame Game, was carers. While this is a good thing, it
All Wales People First/Natasha Hirst; Roger Blackwell/Flickr CC BY 2.0
austerity with a 2.0 version. published. In it, I outlined the should not have to be like this.
The country may – as many have dangers of political rhetoric that It is not too late to prevent the
speculated – be in a state of demonised or “othered” some worst from happening and to put
permacrisis but, even if that is the groups to justify harsh economic policies and funding in place to
case, governments have a choice policies that make people poorer support people with learning
over how they react to crises. and increase marginalisation. disabilities and those with
In some ways, the government The dignity and wellbeing of caring responsibilities.
has acknowledged the need to people with learning disabilities The UK needs a “social
assist people, for example with the should not be sacrificed at the altar revolution” Powell suggests, one
one-off £400 fuel discount and an of harmful policies that could – that prioritises people with
additional £150 cost-of-living with political will – be avoided. learning disabilities instead of
payment to six million disabled We have already seen continually cutting support and
people in recognition of (some) of government messaging deployed to exacerbating marginalisation.
the additional energy costs people shore up proposed policies to Ministers would do well to listen to
with disabilities tend to face. tackle the latest economic storm. Joe Powell. n

Community Living winter 2023 vol 36 no 2 11