Economics

Arms Race of Election Pledges Comes Too Late for Many in U.K.

Post-industrial towns struggle after a decade of austerity
Conservatives, Labour vie to boost investment and spending

A woman checks her purse in the center of Hartlepool. — A woman checks her purse in the center of Hartlepool.
Photographer: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

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By Andrew Atkinson and Lucy Meakin

November 19, 2019 at 5:00 AM UTC

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Britain’s decade of austerity is coming to an end as politicians pursue an arms race of spending pledges before next month’s election. For the 90,000 or so people of Hartlepool, relief will be too late.