Welfare cuts have fuelled rise of far right and populism, top UN expert says

"From London to Lisbon, politicians from centre-right and centre-left parties alike had steadily eroded social programmes, fostering a sense of scarcity and creating fertile ground for the stirring up of anti-migrant sentiment, said Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. If we were doing more, people would not feel threatened, they would not fear falling behind, he said."

"They would be reassured that the digital and ecological transitions and globalisation will be painless because they are protected by a state that cares for them. He pointed to the UK, where Nigel Farage's Reform party is outflanking the Conservatives from the right on migration, as an example. It's completely terrifying, he said. Reform UK is higher in the polls than ever and you have these anti-migrant demonstrations in various parts of the UK"

"At the heart of his argument is the need for governments to rethink the welfare state from food assistance to healthcare and unemployment benefits as an essential tool to maintain the social fabric of society, rather than a cost to be reduced. Olivier De Schutter. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN to advise or report on specific situations."

Decades of welfare rollback by mainstream politicians have eroded social programmes, creating scarcity and enabling far-right and rightwing populist gains. Reduced access to benefits, increased surveillance and stigmatisation of claimants amplified fear of falling behind and fuelled anti-migrant sentiment. Political competition shifted rightward where welfare investment declined, producing higher support for parties exploiting migration issues. Reinvesting in universal, rights-based social protection — including food assistance, healthcare and unemployment benefits — can maintain social cohesion, reassure people during digital and ecological transitions, and counter the social insecurity that empowers extremist movements.

Read at www.theguardian.com