To be worried that this news will be buried?

[WhoWants2Know]

What with it being CIN and May having to replace cabinet ministers again, I'm worried that this isn't being more widely reported.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/16/uk-austerity-has-inflicted-great-misery-on-citizens-un-says

For all the government say that Universal Credit is working to get people back into work, the UN reporter on extreme poverty and human rights finds that a fifth of the UK population is living in poverty now.

Yes there has been a cut in infrastructure at the same time as a massive population increase. It’s a lethal combination and the poor are shafted.

And you wonder why Brexit happened?!

I'm glad it's getting out there alongside news about brexit and the cabinet restructure.

It's definitely good to hear it from the UN, after gaslighting from the powers that be.

What worries me most is that we haven't even actually left the EU yet, and UC is only partially in place. If it's bad now, there's potential for it to become so much worse in the next year.

Even if the government immediately tried to implement changes to improve life for the poorest people, it would take ages for it to result in actual change that we can see..

@julietrosalind - that's what they say. In truth the DDs and I will be put in a crummy b&b and, if temp accommodation becomes available we'll be in there. I have been told that there is 0% chance of me getting a council house, so we'll be stuck in a temp place in a building that is basically a drug den. With my autistic DD who doesn't cope well with change at all. Can't find anywhere to rent as LLs refuse to let to anyone on HB.

@ladydana Germany has immigration on a massive scale and seemingly is able to provide a decent standard of living for all. I am horrified by this report though it doesn't surprise me. Really I'm only surprised that most people are still are so complacent about it. Why isn't there more protest?

Yes there has been a cut in infrastructure at the same time as a massive population increase

Given that our population would increase anyway regardless of immigration, it’s a bit foolish and naive to blame it on immigration.

It’s a lazy argument.

Conservatives hate and want to punish the poor. Yet the fuckers keep being voted in. UC is enslavement. Look for more work hours. Keep UC appointments even if they're in the middle of your work hours or you'll be sanctioned (hence the proliferation of food banks). It truly is a nightmare system designed to cause maximum stress. It controls people's lives, and keeps them subdued and anxious.

belle don’t be ridiculous! You do realise what happened after 2000 when Blair didn’t place restrictions on immigration after Poland etc joined the EU?!

Much as it think most immigrants add hugely to our society and communities it is utterly foolish to pretend there hasn’t been a massive strain in stretchedajd underfunded services.

As my polish cleaner said to me last week - she has had enough!

If Blair hadn’t made this decision, I don’t honestly think we would be looking at Brexit. The poorest had enough and being told immigrants brought an economic benefit ignored the huge societal impacts

But but but...if you look on the salary threads on this forum, 40% of posters are earning in the top 5%!

Poverty? What poverty?

@Polarbearflavour - perhaps I should invite them to join me in my tent on the roundabout next month and I can explain to them 😂😂.

YANBU. What SGB said is spot on.

Read the small print. The guy who wrote the report was in the country for just two weeks and visited at least half a dozen cities. With all the travelling etc he probably had no more than a day anywhere.
So what was he shown during this whistlestop tour? Obviously foodbanks and people living in tents. Was the report balanced? Did he see what he set out to see?

There's a whiff of political bias about the report itself.

I think IDS is one of the ost evil men I have ever heard of. Thatcher would be proud.

I’m also in Germany & while there are charities like Tafel, we don’t see anything like the rich/poor divide the U.K. sees. Between the states there are clear differences (for example Bavaria is considerable richer than some of the old eastern states), but one of them main things I’ve noticed is that people tend to be more carefully with money.

For example:

1. There isn’t the obsession with home ownership the U.K. has, so you don’t have the same housing issues. Also apartment living, and multiple kids sharing a room is very common.
2. Second-hand is best! There’s a fleamarket for everything.
3. Growing fruit and veg.
4. A lot of shops/restaurants are still very cash-heavy and don’t accept cards. Consequently people tend to favour using cash and therefore don’t end up with credit card debt in the same way.

I’m not saying that those living in poverty in the U.K. could necessarily do anything about it, as I think ultimately they’re a product of the U.K. in general. I can’t help but look at the different attitude to money here.

Obviously foodbanks and people living in tents. Was the report balanced? Did he see what he set out to see?

The fact that foodbanks and people living in tents is bad enough in itself in one of the richest countries in the world FFS.

Furthermore official statistics support the massive impact of austerity.

Why are people so keen to deny this?

I’m not saying that those living in poverty in the U.K. could necessarily do anything about it, as I think ultimately they’re a product of the U.K. in general

So if people grew some veg and paid cash it’ll all be fine

Interesting post @PeterRabbit.

I'd love a debate on differences but most posters just want to moan about UC.

@Believeitornot you are spectacularly missing the point of the part of my post you’ve quoted.

My personal experiences of living in the U.K. vs living in Germany is that there is a different attitude to money/spending/debt. Which I believe is a contributing factor to the difference in poverty levels.

The examples I listed were everyday things that I see here en masse which I didn’t see in the U.K. where people, in general, are more careful with money. It’s about an attitude and lifestyle difference.

I am categorically not saying that these few things I listed off the top of my head are the answer to the U.K.’s poverty issues, and I think you’re being slightly obtuse in implying that.

However, that said - why not grow your own if you can. Unless you absolutely have no choice to go into debt - don’t !

@PeterRabbitsBlueCoat - I'm sorry, but the vast majority of poor people/people living in poverty don't actually have anywhere to grow anything.

@Uniquack hence “if you can”. If you’re homeless, of course you can’t.

But even if all you have is a window, you’d be surprised what you can grow. I used to grow tomatoes on a tiny windowsill of a 4th floor flat.

My personal experiences of living in the U.K. vs living in Germany is that there is a different attitude to money/spending/debt. Which I believe is a contributing factor to the difference in poverty levels

Your post implies that it’s the fault of those who are in poverty. That’s what I’m objecting to. Sorry, but no. We have structural inequality caused by low wages which aren’t enough to live on. Germany does a lot more to ensure that workers have a say in how companies are run, for examples. Makes a massive difference to outcomes.

Which is incredibly patronising @PeterRabbitsBlueCoat

It’s a bit unfair to compare us to Germany. It is a much richer country than us. They were heavily invested in after ww2 unlike the broke Uk. It did give them a bit of a head start. They don’t have a deficit. They looked after their manufacturing industries which kept the working classes employed and prevented a benefits cycle.

@Believeitornot again you are not actually reading what I’m writing.

Key phrases: “personal experience” and “contributing factor”.

I completely agree with you that there are unfairly low wages in the U.K. However I also feel that SOME people have irresponsible attitudes to money. I spent 15 years in banking in the U.K. before I left, largely working in very poor areas in the North East, and cannot tell you how many customers were in a position where their spending constantly exceeded their incomes because they failed to distinguish between necessities and luxuries. Can’t pay the rent, but paying £70 a month for Sky.

And before you go off on one again - this is MY experience of SOME people.

Peter I think it's the whole German mentality of 'yes I can', indoctrinated at birth, taught through out life, schools and clubs etc.

It's like even their national anthem is more uplifting than ours - and I cringe as half the English football team mumble their way through and then the team crash out at the quarter finals whilst Germany go on to win triumphantly.

completely agree with you that there are unfairly low wages in the U.K. However I also feel that SOME people have irresponsible attitudes to money. I spent 15 years in banking in the U.K. before I left, largely working in very poor areas in the North East, and cannot tell you how many customers were in a position where their spending constantly exceeded their incomes because they failed to distinguish between necessities and luxuries. Can’t pay the rent, but paying £70 a month for Sky

Er yes so what’s your point? Individuals make poor choices. That happpens in all walks of life.

It doesn’t explain the massive increase in poverty, so no I wouldn’t attribute it as a fundamental reason as to why inequality is what it is.

The issue I have with trying to use that line as an argument is that people think it’s then acceptable to not do anything about poverty.

@CondomsLubricantAndFlapjack or this year when Germany spectacularly failed at the World Cup!

We were conveniently of the country on the day of that game