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All In This Together?
Identity, Politics, and Church in Austerity Britain
Peter Herriot
‘Peter Herriot’s book is a powerful survey of the process of scapegoating and alienating disadvantaged groups as an essential part of Austerity politics in the UK. He demonstrates the dangers of dividing a country against itself and the dilemmas facing church leaders and others who are trying to halt our slide into deeper levels of social injustice.’
‘This book powerfully exposes the disturbing realities of a deeply divided Britain in an Age of Austerity. However it is not despairing, holding out the hope of building a sense of identity based on valuing everyone equally.’
‘All In This Together? is a serious treatment of the damaging narrative of Austerity put in its wider historical context. In this valuable book there are useful insights into the ideology of Austerity and the devastating impact that cuts have had on the most marginalised members of our neighbourhoods. Peter Herriot rightly points out that it is only when we bring civil society together, through allied institutions speaking confidently against injustice that we can bring an alternative. I recommend this book to any leader in civil society keen to take a stand.’
Who are we, in Britain today? There was never any doubt about Britishness during the first Age of Austerity, immediately after the Second World War. ‘Of course we’re British’, would have been the response, ‘we’ve just won the war, haven’t we?’ Yet today, in the second Age of Austerity, being British, like some other traditionally held identities, is not as prominent nor as confident an identity as it used to be.
The collapse of traditional identities, and the creation by those in power of new labels such as ‘skivers’, ‘shirkers’ and ‘hard-working families’ has created a divisive narrative with devastating personal impact, giving the lie to the Conservative Party’s campaign slogan ‘We’re all in this together’.
Peter Herriot believes the tide is starting to turn. New and complex identities are being developed, and, as cuts to services start to affect almost everyone, different institutions such as the Church, advocacy organisations and academia are collaborating to challenge the dominant narrative.
