The 14 years that broke Britain, part 1 – podcast

When a fresh-faced David Cameron made his pitch to the country in 2010, he promised to mend what he called “broken Britain”.

In this first episode in a two-part series, Jonathan Freedland and Helen Pidd discuss how Cameron introduced the idea of the “big society”, arguing that it would be communities, rather than government, that would improve the country. He promised a kinder, gentler Conservative party that would give real power to charities and neighbourhood groups to change the UK for the better.

But almost as soon as he became prime minister, Cameron performed a historic handbrake turn. Instead of ushering in a new, compassionate Conservative age, he and his chancellor, George Osborne, began a programme of shredding the state and the social fabric, ostensibly to cut the national debt.

Austerity touched every aspect of society, and resulted in local authorities losing 60p in every £1 of the money they received from central government. Swimming pools were drained, youth clubs shuttered, police forces slashed and half of all magistrates courts were closed.

We return to the UK’s biggest food bank to discuss how Cameron and Osborne’s austerity agenda continues to shatter lives, years after they left Downing Street. With 3,000 food banks now operating in the UK, is this the big society in action or the clearest symbol of the cruel legacy of Tory rule?