the united kingdom government austerity programme is a fiscal policy adopted in the early 21st century following the great recession. it is a deficit reduction programme consisting of sustained reductions in public spending and tax rises, intended to reduce the government budget deficit and the role of the welfare state in the united kingdom. the national health service and education have been "ringfenced" and protected from direct spending cuts, but between 2010 and 2019 more than £30 billion in spending reductions have been made to welfare payments, housing subsidies and social services. the effects of united kingdom austerity policies have proved controversial and the policies have received criticism from a variety of politicians and economists. anti-austerity movements have been formed among citizens more generally.