Close Menu
Voxa News

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    BBC debate is nostalgic reminder of English crisis never being far away | Football

    August 3, 2025

    This Flight Attendant-loved Makeup Bag Is on Sale

    August 3, 2025

    At least one killed in Israeli strike on Gaza Red Crescent HQ, says aid group

    August 3, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Voxa News
    Trending
    • BBC debate is nostalgic reminder of English crisis never being far away | Football
    • This Flight Attendant-loved Makeup Bag Is on Sale
    • At least one killed in Israeli strike on Gaza Red Crescent HQ, says aid group
    • Bank of England forecast to cut interest rates amid rising unemployment and Trump tariffs | Bank of England
    • Influencers in Number 10? Inevitable
    • The 45 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (August 2025)
    • Adam Lambert Defends Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Casting
    • Women at the helm: an all-female sailing weekend on the Norfolk Broads | Norfolk holidays
    Sunday, August 3
    • Home
    • Business
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Science
    • Sports
    • Travel
    • World
    • Entertainment
    • Technology
    Voxa News
    Home»Politics»The Guardian view on Europe’s failing economic orthodoxy: social contracts cannot be renewed through cuts | Editorial
    Politics

    The Guardian view on Europe’s failing economic orthodoxy: social contracts cannot be renewed through cuts | Editorial

    By Olivia CarterJuly 20, 2025No Comments3 Mins Read0 Views
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Telegram Tumblr Email
    The Guardian view on Europe’s failing economic orthodoxy: social contracts cannot be renewed through cuts | Editorial
    ‘François Bayrou advocated the freezing of tax thresholds, pensions and benefits, deep cuts to the welfare budget and the abolition of two national holidays.’ Photograph: Raphaël Lafargue/ABACA/Shutterstock
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    As European politicians begin to pack their suitcases and head to the beach, they do so against a domestic backdrop that begins to look distinctly ominous. In Britain and France, nationalist populist parties consistently lead in the polls. In Germany, the particularly extreme Alternative für Deutschland is neck and neck with the conservative CDU. Specific dynamics might vary but the unsettling pattern is the same – large swaths of voters increasingly identify with authoritarian and often xenophobic political forces.

    Prolonged post-industrial malaise, wage stagnation and austerity have precipitated this wave of disaffection with the mainstream, especially among the less well-off. Yet in London, Paris and Berlin, governments of the centre-left and centre-right seem intent on alienating disillusioned electorates still further. During his visit to London last week, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, heralded a new strategic partnership for changed times between Germany, Britain and France. But a much-needed economic reset, which dismantles failed fiscal orthodoxies, seems as far away as ever.

    The fallout from Sir Keir Starmer’s failed and misguided attempt to target disabled benefit recipients, in order to stay within arbitrary financial rules, will haunt Labour’s summer. Last week, it was the turn of the centre-right French prime minister, François Bayrou, to sing from the same unpopular hymn sheet. Presenting his government’s provisional budget plans for 2026, Mr Bayrou proposed a real-terms cut in all spending areas bar defence. He also advocated the freezing of tax thresholds, pensions and benefits, deep cuts to the welfare budget and the abolition of two national holidays. Mr Merz is similarly intent on an overhaul of welfare benefits, including cuts to rent subsidies and harsher sanctions for the long-term unemployed.

    The accompanying rhetoric, in each case, has called for collective sacrifice to the common good. Sir Keir and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, speak of tough choices and trade-offs. Mr Bayrou last week instructed French voters that “everyone must participate in the effort” to reduce public debt, while refusing to countenance proposals for a 2% tax on very wealthy individuals. Mr Merz routinely lectures Germans on the need to work more.

    It won’t wash. The legacy of the pandemic, the cost of keeping ageing populations healthy and the moral imperative of the green transition undoubtedly represent huge challenges. Donald Trump’s trade wars may become another serious headwind to face. But large numbers of voters in western liberal democracies are no longer listening to arguments that claim “we are all in it together” – and with good reason. According to a recent survey by a French business magazine, between 2010 and 2025 the collective wealth of France’s super-rich grew from €200bn to €1.2tn – a 500% increase. Inherited wealth has more or less doubled as a proportion of GDP in advanced economies since the middle of the last century. Despite this massive upwards redistribution of rewards in western liberal democracies in past decades, mainstream parties are continuing to seek to balance the books by inflicting economic pain on vulnerable people and those just about getting by.

    A paradigm shift is urgently needed. Mr Merz rightly insisted in London that a different European approach was required to cope with a new and threatening era. That goes for the economy as well as defence and foreign policy. Shredded social contracts will not be renewed by bearing down on those already struggling, as the far right surges.

    contracts cuts economic Editorial Europes failing Guardian orthodoxy renewed Social view
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Olivia Carter
    • Website

    Olivia Carter is a staff writer at Verda Post, covering human interest stories, lifestyle features, and community news. Her storytelling captures the voices and issues that shape everyday life.

    Related Posts

    Bank of England forecast to cut interest rates amid rising unemployment and Trump tariffs | Bank of England

    August 3, 2025

    Stourbridge MP investigated over late filing of overseas trip

    August 3, 2025

    UK has got ‘fat’ on decades of free labour by women, says MP Jess Phillips | Jess Phillips

    August 3, 2025

    New offence to target online posts for small-boat Channel crossings

    August 3, 2025

    Social media ads promoting small boat crossings to UK to be banned | UK news

    August 2, 2025

    Police pay rise of 4.2% derided as ‘barely treading water’

    August 2, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Medium Rectangle Ad
    Top Posts

    27 NFL draft picks remain unsigned, including 26 second-rounders and Bengals’ Shemar Stewart

    July 17, 20251 Views

    Eight healthy babies born after IVF using DNA from three people | Science

    July 17, 20251 Views

    Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza | Kneecap

    July 17, 20251 Views
    Don't Miss

    BBC debate is nostalgic reminder of English crisis never being far away | Football

    August 3, 2025

    Nostalgia for the 1990s remains heavy. Just look at all those stadiums and parks the…

    This Flight Attendant-loved Makeup Bag Is on Sale

    August 3, 2025

    At least one killed in Israeli strike on Gaza Red Crescent HQ, says aid group

    August 3, 2025

    Bank of England forecast to cut interest rates amid rising unemployment and Trump tariffs | Bank of England

    August 3, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • TikTok
    • WhatsApp
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Latest Reviews
    Medium Rectangle Ad
    Most Popular

    27 NFL draft picks remain unsigned, including 26 second-rounders and Bengals’ Shemar Stewart

    July 17, 20251 Views

    Eight healthy babies born after IVF using DNA from three people | Science

    July 17, 20251 Views

    Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza | Kneecap

    July 17, 20251 Views
    Our Picks

    As a carer, I’m not special – but sometimes I need to be reminded how important my role is | Natasha Sholl

    June 27, 2025

    Anna Wintour steps back as US Vogue’s editor-in-chief

    June 27, 2025

    Elon Musk reportedly fired a key Tesla executive following another month of flagging sales

    June 27, 2025
    Recent Posts
    • BBC debate is nostalgic reminder of English crisis never being far away | Football
    • This Flight Attendant-loved Makeup Bag Is on Sale
    • At least one killed in Israeli strike on Gaza Red Crescent HQ, says aid group
    • Bank of England forecast to cut interest rates amid rising unemployment and Trump tariffs | Bank of England
    • Influencers in Number 10? Inevitable
    • About Us
    • Disclaimer
    • Get In Touch
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    2025 Voxa News. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.