A top United Nations expert has warned that decades of welfare cuts by mainstream politicians have fuelled the rise of far-right and populist parties globally, including in the UK. Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said rolling back social programmes had created a sense of scarcity and anti-migrant sentiment.
In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, De Schutter pointed to the UK as an example, noting the rising poll numbers of Nigel Farage's Reform UK and anti-migrant demonstrations. He argued that insufficient investment in the welfare state was a key driver of these trends, describing the situation as 'completely terrifying'.
De Schutter will present a report to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, urging governments to view the welfare state as an essential investment rather than a cost. He said mainstream politicians had made benefits harder to obtain, stigmatising claimants and fostering a 'us against them' discourse that the far right is now exploiting.
A 2021 study of 14 European countries found that a one-point increase in income inequality corresponded to a one-point rise in support for populist parties. Conversely, higher pensions, minimum wages and child allowances reduced support for the far right. De Schutter highlighted that far-right parties often argue migrants strain social services, despite evidence that migrants in OECD countries contribute more in taxes than they receive in benefits.
De Schutter noted that such parties resonate with economically insecure men in neglected rural areas, citing examples in Germany, France and the Netherlands. He warned that once in power, far-right leaders like Donald Trump and Javier Milei have continued to dismantle social protections, maintaining elite privileges.
