Let's Outlaw Austerity For The Good Of The Country

Petition From General Federation Of Trade Unions

On 22nd June 2010, the then chancellor George Obsorne delivered the first budget of the new Government, announcing £40 billion worth of cuts to public services. 

We face the prospect of a new Government on 4 July, and that is why our campaign coalition of 13 trade unions and campaign groups wants to see a change to the law to make austerity unlawful. 

By enacting section one of the Equality Act 2010, the socio-economic duty, we can provide the framework to challenge austerity and Make Equality Real. 

During this general election campaign, we are directly calling on all parties to make a clear commitment in their manifestos to make section 1 of the equality act law – the socio-economic duty, reducing poverty, to help make austerity unlawful.

We believe that socio-economic duty should be written into the Equality Act 2010 as part of a campaign to end austerity and make equality real. Ensuring that everyone in Britain can live secure and fulfilling lives.

It has been 14 years since the implementation of ‘Austerity’ policies in our country. We are asking the public to sign this petition and help us make austerity unlawful.

Petition text:

To: Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Ed Davey, Carla Denyer & Adrian Ramsay, Gavin Robinson, Liz Saville Robert

From: [Your Name]

During this general election campaign, we are directly calling on all parties to make a clear commitment in their manifestos to make section 1 of the equality act law – the socio-economic duty, reducing poverty, to help make austerity unlawful.

We believe that socio-economic duty should be written into the Equality Act 2010 as part of a campaign to end austerity and make equality real. Ensuring that everyone in Britain can live secure and fulfilling lives.

It has been 14 years since the implementation of ‘Austerity’ policies in our country.

Austerity is a set of government policies that reduce public spending alongside increasing taxation primarily on low to middle income earners, with a supposed aim of reducing a high deficit (i.e. the difference between government spending and income).

The mainstream economic opinion is that austerity policies are hugely damaging, and that government spending and disposable incomes are vital to a healthy economy as they allow for the creation of jobs, good public services and the circulation of capital.

The Progressive Economy Forum estimates this ‘Austerity’ has cost the United Kingdom half a trillion pounds of public spending.

Aside from the devastating impact it has had on our economy, ‘Austerity’ has meant a:

Increase of those living in poor conditions of housing: Social Workers Union found that two-thirds (61%) of children’s social workers witnessed young people living in conditions with excessive levels of mould.

Destruction of our public services: In 2022 the waiting list in England for non-urgent care in hospital had reached a new record high of 7.2 million people

Rise in fuel poverty: Child Poverty Action group has said by January 2023, over half of households in the UK (15 million) will be in fuel poverty – spending over 10 per cent of net income on fuel.

Increase in child poverty: the No Child Left Behind campaign has said 3.9 million children – 8 pupils in every class of 30 – living in poverty. And it’s only getting worse.

Growth of inequality in the UK: the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said the gap between the richest in society and the rest of the population has widened over the 10-year period (from 2010); the income share of the richest 1% increased from 7% to 8.2% between FYE 2011 and FYE 2020.

We the undersigned our campaigning with trade unions, campaign groups and wider society for the reintroduction of section 1 of the equality act – the socio-economic duty by central Government. Utilising the work of just fair and the Equality Trust, who have shown what is possible across local authorities when the socio-economic duty is enacted.

The campaign is proudly backed by a strong coalition of organisations, including:

• Artists' Union England (AUE) • Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) • Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) • Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARACUK) • Community • Equity • General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) • Musicians' Union (MU) • National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) • National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO) • National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) • Social Workers Union (SWU) • The Equality Trust.

Together we can make equality real, and help end austerity for good.