Cut, Not Treat: On Disability, War, and the Political Psychology of Scarcity

In the current discourse surrounding Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and its alleged unsustainable rise in expenditure, there is a noticeable absence of context, compassion, and coherence. While figures such as Stephen Timms—Labour’s Work and Pensions Committee Chair—acknowledge that PIP claims have increased since 2019, they too often reduce this to a matter of “unsustainable growth,” implicitly blaming claimants rather than structural conditions. This framing must be confronted, especially as the UK government commits to expanding military capabilities while preparing to reduce welfare spending.

The Labour Party, once a bastion of social justice, now echoes Conservative narratives of being “prepared for war” and warning of “too many people” claiming for “invisible conditions.” Militarism and austerity are ideologically connected. The politics of disability denial and mental health stigma must be analysed not just economically, but philosophically and psychologically.

The Context of PIP Expenditure

PIP replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA), with changes intended to focus support on those in greatest need. However, sources such as the Office for Budget Responsibility show that rising costs stem from:

1. Transition from DLA to PIP, which hasn't reduced expenditure as expected.
2. Large-scale health impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increase in physical and psychological conditions.
3. A collapsed preventive care system in the NHS leading to untreated chronic conditions.

Assembling these facts challenges the narrative of fraudulent claims. Academics like Tom Shakespeare and Dan Goodley argue that disability is socially produced, particularly under economic precarity and an underfunded health system.

Mental Illness and Political Denial

Byung‑Chul Han observes that modern societies drive internalised exploitation, which triggers anxiety, depression, and neurodiverse conditions. Politicians often respond by gaslighting sufferers: “If you can’t cope in this world, it’s your fault.” That mental illness is singled out as less “real” perpetuates a moral hierarchy of suffering that excludes those most harmed by systemic neglect.

The Economic Mythology of Scarcity

Despite cuts to health and social care, the UK’s military expenditure is increasing. According to SIPRI, the UK spent approximately $75 billion in 2023 (~2.3 % of GDP), ranking sixth globally. Meanwhile, disability spending remains low by OECD standards. Derrida’s concept of “violent inscription” shows how budgets enshrine whose life is valued. We may not afford a care state, but we always manage to fund bombs.

Labour’s Alignment with Militarism

Labour’s embrace of militarism under Keir Starmer illustrates “capitalist realism”—the sense that no alternative exists, even for social and mental health investment. Calls to protect the “homeland” distract from systemic causes of distress and poverty. When defense is elevated, care becomes conditional, subordinating the vulnerable to the militarised nation-state.

Toward a Radical Ethic of Care

Budget decisions must be reframed to view disability support as infrastructure—essential to a civilised society. Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach emphasizes enabling all people to function. Philosopher Eva Feder Kittay argues that embracing interdependence is critical: we will all need care eventually. Building a mentally healthy society strengthens resilience, not weakness.

Conclusion: The Budget is a Mirror

Budgets reveal societal values and moral priorities. The UK's current path—cutting benefits while expanding military spending—reflects a profound failure of moral imagination. Interrogating whose lives are valued and whose are disposable is essential. The next time someone warns that disability benefits are “out of control,” ask instead: what else has spiralled—war, neglect, or moral betrayal? We always find money for weapons. We must find it for people.

References

1. Office for Budget Responsibility. Welfare spending: disability benefits (forecast outturn 2023–24, projected to 2028–29) 
2. BMJ. Clinical effectiveness of physical & mental rehab for long‑term conditions
3. BMA. NHS backlog data analysis (including mental health pressure indicators)
4. SIPRI. Trends in World Military Expenditure 2023 – UK spend $74.9B, 2.3 % of GDP, 6th global ranking 
5. SIPRI press release April 2024: global military reach record high $2.443 trillion, NATO governments among top spenders 
6. SIPRI 2025 data: UK military expenditure rose 2.8 % to $81.8B, 6th worldwide 
7. Derrida, Jacques. The Violence of the Letter (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry) 
8. Amartya Sen. UNESCO on the capabilities approach 
9. Eva Feder Kittay. Love’s Labor: Essays on Women, Equality and Dependency (Oxford University Press) 
10. Byung‑Chul Han. The Burnout Society (MIT Press) 
11. Tom Shakespeare & Dan Goodley. Leading voices in disability theory (various sources, Cambridge & Routledge publications)