Time to talk about austerity again?!
The impact of sorting and itemising just about every object I own (for art’s sake) took its toll on the state of my home. It’s just about sorted now but after months of minimal tidying up and cleaning up my living space, it’s been quite a task getting it back into its former liveable space. In between, there’s been some tweaking to do in order to sort out the new studio space in the garden. Juggling stuff between the garden studio, storage shed and my house has taken time but I’m so very nearly there. So much there, in fact, that I’m writing this from my new work space, trying my best not to be distracted by what needs to be done in the garden!
I’ve had half an eye on the news while all the above’s been going on, but there’s been a lot I’ve had to turn a blind eye to, simply not feeling able to stomach listening to one dire report after another, involving ever-growing, alarming increases in armed conflicts, economic and climate crises, the infringement of human rights and mind boggling discrimination.
Sadly, I have to look no further than the UK these past few days to see such negative reports. Recent news of Labour MPs rebelling against Keir Starmer’s latest welfare reform proposals suggest that austerity might just be in fashion again. Over 40 Labour MPs have told Starmer that they cannot support his intended welfare cuts and reports out on Friday claimed it’s the biggest attack on the welfare state ‘since George Osborne ushered in austerity.’
While sorting, I came across the box with my bread and roses in – still there after all these years, still decaying and still standing as a symbol of the austerity that I hoped (expected!) had gone down with the last Tory government. I would have doubted anyone who told me that there would be a threat of new austerity measures being imposed by a Labour government and that the work I created then would still feel relevant today, ten years on. ‘Bread and Roses’ was created in response to the election results of 2015 and was inspired by a statement put out on Twitter by artist, Jean McEwan. Jean asked the question, ‘how do we get through this?’ A number of artists responded in various ways and a zine was created to include their contributions. I focused on the austerity measures imposed by the then Tory government, recognising the impact that withdrawing financial support from the most vulnerable people in our society would have.
Four years on, cut to another General Election in December 2019, I had this to say:
‘… the remains of the bread and roses are hanging on for dear life – dried-out and husks of their former selves – all but gone, though there are traces still. The neglect and lack of care is well and truly set in and the images below represent the very real and devastating impact of austerity measures imposed upon the most vulnerable and poor.’
I remember those soul destroying days well … and yet, here we are, having gone full circle, this time under a Labour government. John McDonnell accused Labour ministers recently of lacking empathy over recently proposed benefit cuts – ‘treating disabled and sick people callously flies in the face of all the party stands for.’ Disappointment doesn’t cover it – I can barely find the words to sum up my feelings for a party which traditionally, stood for a party of hope – a champion of the downtrodden and most vulnerable members of our society. I feel an enormous sense of loss for a political party that truly represents my values, stays faithful to its principles and stands up for those in society who most need it.
