When the UK Conservative Party won the election in 2010, they took a butcher's knife to the budget.
David Cameron's money-man George Osborne — the young heir to a wallpaper fortune — had a big plan called "austerity," but it put the country on a journey to total chaos.
This is the first episode in a four-part series called Who Broke Britain.
It's about the past 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, all the way up to the general election that's happening next month.
London was once the largest city on Earth — capital of a global empire larger than any other in the history of the world.
Even as recently as 17 years ago, Britons were the richest people in any of the world's large economies.
Since then, they've gone backwards, more than any other large economy.
Britain feels broken. So, who broke it?
Subscribe to If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app.
Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3IhkTK9-xs
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.