The US is looking for higher defense spending
A few days after taking office, US President Donald Trump He spoke to the World Economic Forum (WEF) calls on NATO countries to increase their defensive expenditure from 2% of GDP to 5% of GDP. For a long time, Trump has argued that NATO countries need to draw their weight and contribute more to Ukraine's support for Russia.
On February 12, 2025, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses in his opening speech with the Ukrainian Defense Liaison Group, directed European countries to step up after the pressure campaign. Hegus told leaders of NATO countries This commitment includes “levelling with citizens about the threats facing Europe.” He asked NATO countries to convince the population of the threat of Russia and agree to a significant increase in GDP (from 2% to 5% to 5% at the expense of social support and austerity). “Part of this is talking openly with your people about whether this threat can only be met by spending more on defense,” Heggs said.
Fear about Russia to justify austerity
February 25th, 2025, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer gave a very dramatic speech He characterized Putin as a tyrant and inspired fears about Russian invasion of Europe. Starme painted a dystopian picture of war on his fellow countrymen. He said: “Imagine walking to work. Take your child to school. Like everyone else, another February morning. And suddenly – missiles. sirens. explosions. Not far, but on television. In your town. Attack your community. Kill your country. In an amazing way, priorities warned that if Russia doesn't stop, they'll be under attack in British waters, airspace, cyberspace, and even streets.
He then used this fear publicity to justify increasing UK defence spending from 2% to 2.5% of GDP, at around £13.4 billion a year, pledging to increase defence spending even more. The preferred person said in his speech that this was the biggest increase in British defence spending since the end of the Cold War and that he vowed to set a clear route to increase it to 3% GDP in the next Parliament. He acknowledged that increased defence spending hurt people and informed people of austerity measures and reduced welfare spending, but explained that it was necessary to stop Russian tanks from rolling down the streets of Britain.
The UK succumbs to the pressures of the US
On March 6, less than two weeks later, British Defense Secretary John Healy reported to Heguste that the UK had increased its defence spending in the US challenge. Healy also won the Hegstes as this was the biggest increase in British defence spending since the end of the Cold War..
There are stars beyond the increase in military budgets He expressed interest in the deployment of the British military. As part of NATO-led peacekeeping operations in Ukraine. The British government had options. It either prioritizes the happiness of its citizens or meets the demands of NATO and the US. I chose the latter.
Britain's incredible commitment to proxy war against Russia
As of February 28, 2025, the UK is providing substantial financial, military and material support to Ukraine in response to the Russian-Ukurein conflict. The UK has been flying since February 2022 £7.8 billion with military aid, 5 billion pounds in Non-military assistanceand hundreds of millions of pounds at other costs. Furthermore, under an exceptional revenue acceleration (ERA) loan agreement with Ukraine, the UK is £2.26 billion loan to strengthen Ukraine's war chest. It will also be available in the UK £4.5 billion in Ukraine's post-military The forefront of the year. This is more than last year. Furthermore, in July 2024, the UK pledged to maintain it. Until 2030/31, and in their own words, £3 billion a year in military aid to Ukraine “As long as it takes”.
Who will pay for this? Disabled and elderly
Priority mentioned him address Money to increase defense spending comes from Reducing foreign aid (From 0.5% GNI to 0.3% GNI), that's just part of the story. The extra £13.4 billion in the defense budget cannot be completely offset by foreign aid cuts alone. Foreign aid cuts account for only £6 billion. Both Tories and Labour are reluctant to find defence budget money through borrowing and increasing taxes. Instead, they are cutting welfare benefits and taking away people with disabilities and seniors.
Reducing disability benefits and winter fuel payments
Announced massive welfare cuts for eugenic patients after providing an overly dramatic speech justifying an increase in historic defense budgets; Announced the biggest reduction in record-based benefits and disability benefitspunishing some of the most vulnerable people in the country. This is supposed to save another £5 to £6 billion.
Therefore, money for the biggest increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War comes from the largest welfare cuts in history aimed at supporting disabled, sick and incapacitated people.
This adds to the £1.4 billion savings made by the government, which has been blessed by reducing winter fuel payments to pensioners. This is what the current UK is Electricity prices are still 43% higher More than before the 2022 Russian-Ukurein conflict began. The government's own estimate is 780,000 pension recipients Who should be entitled to winter fuel payments is lost; 71% of people with long-term illnesses or disabilities amount to 1.6 million people with disabilitiesyou will lose your qualification. Despite potential movement Pushing 100,000 pensioners under the poverty lineLabour and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the Labour Government was forced to make difficult decisions to balance the book in light of the £22 billion black hole they inherited. Irony doesn't lose her We proudly support military assistance to Ukraine.
Even individuals with severe disabilities who are classified as unable to work under the proposal to reduce disability benefits can face economic losses. At the same time, many people lose their individual independent payment (PIP) benefits. This is intended to cover the cost of living for people with disabilities and is not linked to employment situations.
Chief Executive Officer of Liz Saise Rights of Persons with Disabilities UKunder the proposed plan, the Ministry of Labor and Pensions (DWP) noted that it expects 428,000 disabled people who are currently obtaining a higher rate mobility component will receive a lower amount or lose it completely. This could lead to many disabled people losing their cars under the athletic system, which means they are no longer able to leave and go to work. These cuts do not only bring people with disabilities into poverty; But they also take away their independence and their ability to find and hold jobs that would counterproductively affect the UK government's designated goals.
Furthermore, the UK government announced it The Road to Work: Reform of Benefits and Support to Make the UK Work Green Paper consultation. This paper proposes that by 2028 we will completely discard the Work Capacity Assessment (WCA) and evaluate additional financial support for Universal Credit (UC) health status via a single assessment. According to Solution Foundationan independent think tank focused on improving the standard of living for people with low incomes, these welfare changes are One person with a disability and the other full-time caregiver lost about £10,300 a year in a UC couple. According to the numbers British Government's own influence statementthe proposal will lead to 3.2 million families losing an average of 1,720 pounds a year, pushing 250,000 extra people into poverty as a direct result.
Several disability support groups explain these measures as follows: Penalty, Cruel and devastating For people with disabilities and their families.
Billions for the War, Penny for the Poor People
The British government's decision to focus billions on war efforts while stripping them of basic support for the most vulnerable citizens is a dishonorable to the public. The hundreds of billions of pounds that the UK has pledged to give to Ukraine. £400 million commitment to Ukraine's energy security.
In winter, how can priorities justify supporting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, whilst denounceing more than 1 million disabled and elderly pensioners in their own country?
The day before Starme gave a dramatic war speech and suggested austerity measures, British Defense Secretary John Healy said. £20 million package to rehabilitation hospitals for disabled and injured Ukrainian soldiers.
How can the UK government justify separating disabled Britons from personal independent payments to assist Ukrainian disabled soldiers?
“We are pleased to announce that James Taylor, executive director of Disabled Equality Charity Scope, has said:The biggest cuts in disability benefits on record should be ashamed of the government at its centre. They choose to punish some of the poorest people in our society. Almost half of the families in poverty include people with disabilities.”
How can the British government justify taking away billions of pounds intended to support some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in their country to support war machinery with Russia?
The answer is clear: they can't.
