Austerity is why white working class deserted to UKIP: Why doesn’t Labour say how it would end cuts? by Michael Meacher MP

It’s true there’s huge disgruntlement at the political establishment for the current disillusioning state of Britain, and in particular for the deeply run-down economy, and that was the real reason for the UKIP so-called surge ( though actually a significant fall-back from UKIP’s vote last year).   Of course there was constant vilification of Europe and immigrants, but they are merely convenient scapegoats for the real cause of Britain’s current malaise which is  4 years of austerity and the bitterness, hurt and anger that this has provoked.   This is not to suggest that there are not real and serious problems about both Europe and immigration which certainly need to be addressed.   But in normal times (i.e. not in the midst of the longest recession for a century) Europe has never been a key issue for more than 3% of the electorate, and even immigration (which is a much more complex and difficult issue) only rises up the political agenda at times of economic crisis when wages are falling and jobs are hard to get.    Neither is the real root cause of the deep disaffection sweeping the country: austerity and endless cuts are the real culprits.

Against that background it is staggering that the real causes of public frustration and anger received such little attention in these elections.  The people who deserted to UKIP in their droves were older white working class voters who are pig-sick of being told, by both parties, that whoever wins the next election there will be another 4-5 years of austerity and continuing depression in their standard of living.   Growth is the manifestly obvious alternative which cries out to be implemented...

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