Keir Starmer Under Fire: Critics Say He’s Carrying on Tory Austerity as Millions Sink Further into Poverty
During a fiery session at Prime Minister’s Questions on 7 May, Lib Dem MP Roz Savage put Keir Starmer on the spot over the growing gap between rich and poor in the UK. With over 14 million people now living in poverty while the richest 1% continue to rake it in, Savage asked the Labour leader to do something meaningful, like reversing cuts to Personal Independence Payments, the winter fuel allowance, and the two-child benefit cap.
Savage pointed out that Britain now ranks as the ninth most unequal developed country. She urged Starmer to commit to poverty reduction targets to ensure economic growth actually helps those at the bottom, not just those already at the top. But despite her call—and similar pressure from his own backbenchers—Starmer is still holding firm on policies introduced by the Conservatives, reported The Canary.
Since last year alone, the UK’s billionaires have seen their wealth balloon from £170 billion to £181 billion. At the same time, the poorest 10% are sinking further into debt. And yet, the two-child benefit cap remains untouched. According to analysis from the Child Poverty Action Group, sticking with this policy could see child poverty numbers jump from 4.5 million to 4.8 million.
Starmer hasn’t stopped there. He’s also cutting the winter fuel allowance for some of the poorest pensioners. Even the government admits this move will likely push another 250,000 older people into poverty by 2029-30. As if that’s not enough, new plans for changes to disability support could hit 700,000 families already living below the poverty line.
Despite all this, Starmer defended his government’s record in the Commons. He claimed they were “delivering 750 free breakfast clubs” and “boosting the minimum wage” for over 3 million of the lowest-paid workers. He also mentioned the child poverty task force is “looking at every lever that can be pulled.”
But critics argue he’s pulling the wrong ones. The breakfast programme? It’s being funded at just 60p per pupil—so little that schools are dropping out or having to dip into already overstretched budgets. Meanwhile, companies like Greggs and Kellogg’s are stepping in as sponsors, raising questions about how healthy or sustainable the scheme really is.
As for the minimum wage increase—yes, it’s gone up about 80p an hour. But with the richest 1% controlling more wealth than 70% of the country combined, it’s hard to see that making a dent. Critics say Labour could do more by linking a company’s minimum wage to its profits. That way, big corporations pulling in huge profits would be expected to pay fairly, while smaller businesses wouldn’t be overburdened.
Starmer’s PMQs performance left many wondering if Labour is really offering a new direction—or just a new face on old Tory economics.
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