New report by CUF on poverty in the North West...

[Badvoc]

really shocking reading

In some areas of Liverpool 64% of children are living in poverty and almost as many pensioners.

What can be done? - apart from somone nailing the report to the door of No 10 for Cameron and his cronies to see????

It's an absolute disgrace. I think the article you are referring to is this one. I am originally from that bit of the North West between Liverpool and Manchester (so I knew both cities well) and when I left there in the mid-nineties, the bit I was leaving from was the poorest part of England at that time. It seems that nearly twenty years later nothing has changed. The problem is, and I hear this from my mates who stayed behind all the time, there are just no jobs.

I think the government could help by creating some Corporation Tax free zones where businesses can set up and get established without incurring the usual levels of taxation. Attracting businesses from across the EU and the rest of the world is the only way forward for the North West. We undoubtedly have the talent (See last week?s decision about Vauxhall's future at Ellesmere Port, meanwhile, Land Rover in Halewood can't build Freelander?s and Evoque's quick enough) we have the land and we have the manpower.

Yosser Hughes' words from the 80's are still (disgracefully) apt now. "Gis a job, [We] can do that".

Not many other people seem that interested though, mrpants [anger]

What with this and last months report by the CS on the effects of the proposed cap of £7500 on FSM I am livid...I have written to my MP, Mr Gove and the PM. I am going to try and go and see the MP at the surgery this week but may not get in now.

I sometimes feel atm that its back to the 80s and the bad odl days of thatcher. Except now she could rightly argue "threre is no such thing as society"

What cap on FSM's? (I am assuming you mean Free school meals?). How would that affect someone with 3 dc attending school currently, 5 days a week for 38 weeks a year, 2 x £2.10 a day, and 1 x £2.30 a day? Will I breach that cap?

The Govt are proposing an income cap of £7500

Its madness.

I don't think the £7500 figure is official or confirmed.

I think it's just the figure the children's society worked with

Poverty is a relative thing. Some people / areas will always have to be the 'poorest' as it is comparative.

As long as people look down on people that try and get themselves an education or knuckle down at work, they will continue to be poor. Not to mention bad habits such as drinking and smoking.

John and jo Substance abuse/addiction is not a "lifestyle choice"!!!! and that fact is that the poorer the enviroment the more likely that there will be addiction/substance abise related issues too.

Please both of you check out the "you know you are skint when..." thread...I think you may both have your eyes opened to how bad things actually are and not just in "poor areas"!! And the posters have no addiction/substance abuse issues either!

How does one get oneself out of poverty when you cant afford transport/clothes/food/medicine????