Warfare before welfare – and the Devil take the vulnerable: is that the UK’s official policy now?
The government has announced a £450 million military aid package for Ukraine—an apparent show of fresh resolve in the face of continued Russian aggression.
But look a little closer, and the reality becomes less headline-worthy: this “new” commitment is actually part of a previously announced £4.5 billion fund, pledged back in January.
Repackaging old spending as new might be clever politics, but it’s also deeply misleading.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
At a time when British citizens are being told—repeatedly—that there’s no money to boost the economy, improve public services, or support the most vulnerable, this kind of political sleight of hand feels more like gaslighting than governance. And it rubs the fact that money has been taken away from us – right into our faces.
For many sick and disabled people in the UK, the announcement lands like a gut punch – not just because of the sheer scale of the funding (billions funnelled overseas) but because of the narrative that continues to justify austerity at home.
While benefits are squeezed, waiting lists grow, and people are forced to navigate a crumbling NHS, somehow there’s always money for war.
It’s hard not to be reminded of the Robin Hood legend—except in reverse. In that story, it was Prince John taxing the peasants into misery so King Richard could fight his wars abroad.
Today, the roles may be different, but the message is familiar: ordinary people must sacrifice so that the state can flex its muscles on the world stage.
To be clear, this isn’t a call to abandon Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion is brutal, and Ukraine deserves support.
But support doesn’t have to mean unquestioned billions in military aid, especially when it comes at the cost of people’s dignity at home.
There’s room here for nuance—for a debate about how best to support peace, how long this war can and should be prolonged, and what happens when aid becomes a political performance rather than a path to resolution.
Right now, the UK is spending like a country at war—just not a war its own people chose. And in that war, the casualties include not just distant soldiers, but struggling citizens who are being quietly left behind.
We were told Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. But today, it feels like the opposite. Billions are found for war, while the sick, the disabled, and the struggling are told there’s nothing left. If you’re tired of playing the peasant in someone else’s crusade, speak up. We need a national conversation—not just about how much we spend on foreign wars, but about who gets to decide where our money goes. Until we challenge that, nothing changes.
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The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
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Warfare before welfare – and the Devil take the vulnerable
Warfare before welfare – and the Devil take the vulnerable: is that the UK’s official policy now?
The government has announced a £450 million military aid package for Ukraine—an apparent show of fresh resolve in the face of continued Russian aggression.
But look a little closer, and the reality becomes less headline-worthy: this “new” commitment is actually part of a previously announced £4.5 billion fund, pledged back in January.
Repackaging old spending as new might be clever politics, but it’s also deeply misleading.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
At a time when British citizens are being told—repeatedly—that there’s no money to boost the economy, improve public services, or support the most vulnerable, this kind of political sleight of hand feels more like gaslighting than governance. And it rubs the fact that money has been taken away from us – right into our faces.
For many sick and disabled people in the UK, the announcement lands like a gut punch – not just because of the sheer scale of the funding (billions funnelled overseas) but because of the narrative that continues to justify austerity at home.
While benefits are squeezed, waiting lists grow, and people are forced to navigate a crumbling NHS, somehow there’s always money for war.
It’s hard not to be reminded of the Robin Hood legend—except in reverse. In that story, it was Prince John taxing the peasants into misery so King Richard could fight his wars abroad.
Today, the roles may be different, but the message is familiar: ordinary people must sacrifice so that the state can flex its muscles on the world stage.
To be clear, this isn’t a call to abandon Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion is brutal, and Ukraine deserves support.
But support doesn’t have to mean unquestioned billions in military aid, especially when it comes at the cost of people’s dignity at home.
There’s room here for nuance—for a debate about how best to support peace, how long this war can and should be prolonged, and what happens when aid becomes a political performance rather than a path to resolution.
Right now, the UK is spending like a country at war—just not a war its own people chose. And in that war, the casualties include not just distant soldiers, but struggling citizens who are being quietly left behind.
We were told Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. But today, it feels like the opposite. Billions are found for war, while the sick, the disabled, and the struggling are told there’s nothing left. If you’re tired of playing the peasant in someone else’s crusade, speak up. We need a national conversation—not just about how much we spend on foreign wars, but about who gets to decide where our money goes. Until we challenge that, nothing changes.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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