The United Kingdom government austerity programme is a fiscal policy that was adopted for a period in the early 21st century following the Great Recession. The term was used by the Coalition and Conservative governments in office from 2010 to 2019, and again during the 2021–present United Kingdom cost of living crisis. The of United Kingdom austerity policies have proved and the policies have received criticism from a variety of politicians and economists. Anti-austerity movements have been formed among citizens more generally.