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U.K. Austerity Has Inflicted ‘Great Misery,’ U.N. Official Says U.K. Austerity Has Inflicted ‘Great Misery,’ U.N. Official Says
(about 13 hours later)
LONDON — A United Nations poverty expert warned on Wednesday that Britain’s social safety net has been badly damaged by the government’s austerity program and compared the country’s welfare overhauls to a version of a Victorian workhouse.LONDON — A United Nations poverty expert warned on Wednesday that Britain’s social safety net has been badly damaged by the government’s austerity program and compared the country’s welfare overhauls to a version of a Victorian workhouse.
In a scathing report on the impact of budget cuts on human rights in Britain, Philip Alston, the United Nations special rapporteur for extreme poverty, concluded that cuts to public services since 2010 have resulted in “tragic social consequences.”In a scathing report on the impact of budget cuts on human rights in Britain, Philip Alston, the United Nations special rapporteur for extreme poverty, concluded that cuts to public services since 2010 have resulted in “tragic social consequences.”
“Much of the glue that has held British society together since the Second World War has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos,” Mr. Alston said. “A booming economy, high employment and a budget surplus have not reversed austerity, a policy pursued more as an ideological than an economic agenda.”“Much of the glue that has held British society together since the Second World War has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos,” Mr. Alston said. “A booming economy, high employment and a budget surplus have not reversed austerity, a policy pursued more as an ideological than an economic agenda.”
Mr. Alston’s report comes after a two-week fact-finding mission in November, during which he visited some of Britain’s poorest districts. He angered ministers with his initial assessment, by accusing the government of inflicting “great misery” on its people with “punitive, meanspirited and often callous austerity policies.”Mr. Alston’s report comes after a two-week fact-finding mission in November, during which he visited some of Britain’s poorest districts. He angered ministers with his initial assessment, by accusing the government of inflicting “great misery” on its people with “punitive, meanspirited and often callous austerity policies.”
Although overall poverty rates have remained steady under the Conservative-led government, more children and older people are living in absolute poverty — defined as severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information — and inequality rates have spiked, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.Although overall poverty rates have remained steady under the Conservative-led government, more children and older people are living in absolute poverty — defined as severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information — and inequality rates have spiked, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Food banks have proliferated, homelessness has increased, life expectancy is falling for certain groups, and tens of thousands of poor families are living in accommodations far from schools, jobs and community networks, according to the rapporteur’s report.Food banks have proliferated, homelessness has increased, life expectancy is falling for certain groups, and tens of thousands of poor families are living in accommodations far from schools, jobs and community networks, according to the rapporteur’s report.
The study says that 14 million people in Britain — one-fifth of the population — live in poverty and that 1.5 million of them experienced destitution in 2017, living on less than 10 pounds a day, about $13, after housing costs.The study says that 14 million people in Britain — one-fifth of the population — live in poverty and that 1.5 million of them experienced destitution in 2017, living on less than 10 pounds a day, about $13, after housing costs.
The government dismissed the final report as “barely believable,” based as it was on a short period of time spent in the country.The government dismissed the final report as “barely believable,” based as it was on a short period of time spent in the country.
“We take tackling poverty extremely seriously, which is why we spend £95 billion a year on welfare and maintain a state pension system that supports people into retirement,” a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said on Wednesday. That works out to around $120 billion.“We take tackling poverty extremely seriously, which is why we spend £95 billion a year on welfare and maintain a state pension system that supports people into retirement,” a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said on Wednesday. That works out to around $120 billion.
“All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment,” he added.“All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment,” he added.
Britain’s unemployment rate is at its lowest level since 1974, government figures show. But Mr. Alston said the “repeated response” that more people are employed overlooks several “inconvenient facts”: nearly 40 percent of children are predicted to be living in poverty two years from now; 16 percent of people over 65 live in relative poverty; and millions of those who are working are dependent upon various forms of charities to cope. Britain’s unemployment rate is at its lowest level since 1974, government figures show. But Mr. Alston said the “repeated response” that more people are employed overlooks several “inconvenient facts”: nearly 40 percent of children are predicted to be living in poverty two years from now; 16 percent of people over 65 live in relative poverty; and millions of those who are working are dependent upon charities to cope.
The rapporteur acknowledged that the government had taken action on some issues raised in his preliminary report. He singled out in particular the introduction of a uniform poverty measure that accounts for food insecurity and a delay to the rollout of a benefits system known as universal credit, which has pushed thousands of people under the poverty line.The rapporteur acknowledged that the government had taken action on some issues raised in his preliminary report. He singled out in particular the introduction of a uniform poverty measure that accounts for food insecurity and a delay to the rollout of a benefits system known as universal credit, which has pushed thousands of people under the poverty line.
“That program will be improved by plans to provide more time to repay advances, to reduce debt payment limits and to reduce extreme penalties,” he said. “But, for all the talk that austerity is over, massive disinvestment in the social safety net continues unabated.”“That program will be improved by plans to provide more time to repay advances, to reduce debt payment limits and to reduce extreme penalties,” he said. “But, for all the talk that austerity is over, massive disinvestment in the social safety net continues unabated.”
In his harshest criticism, the rapporteur said: “It might seem to some observers that the Department of Work and Pensions has been tasked with designing a digital and sanitized version of the 19th-century workhouse, made infamous by Charles Dickens.”In his harshest criticism, the rapporteur said: “It might seem to some observers that the Department of Work and Pensions has been tasked with designing a digital and sanitized version of the 19th-century workhouse, made infamous by Charles Dickens.”
Mr. Alston’s comments came days after Human Rights Watch published a damning report, claiming that tens of thousands of poor families in Britain have been left without enough food because of government welfare cuts over the past decade.Mr. Alston’s comments came days after Human Rights Watch published a damning report, claiming that tens of thousands of poor families in Britain have been left without enough food because of government welfare cuts over the past decade.
A 23-year-old mother from the port city of Hull, in northern England, told the group that she usually has no food left by the end of the week and relies on a low-cost pantry that distributes surplus food from supermarkets.A 23-year-old mother from the port city of Hull, in northern England, told the group that she usually has no food left by the end of the week and relies on a low-cost pantry that distributes surplus food from supermarkets.
“When you’re a single mum, there are very few jobs you can do that let you drop your child to school in the morning, then go to work and be back at 2:30 to pick them up,” she said. “I skip meals, so my daughter can eat.”“When you’re a single mum, there are very few jobs you can do that let you drop your child to school in the morning, then go to work and be back at 2:30 to pick them up,” she said. “I skip meals, so my daughter can eat.”
A record 1.6 million emergency food parcels were given out by The Trussell Trust, Britain’s largest food bank charity, between April 2018 and March 2019. The group has recorded a 73 percent increase in emergency food handouts over the past five years.A record 1.6 million emergency food parcels were given out by The Trussell Trust, Britain’s largest food bank charity, between April 2018 and March 2019. The group has recorded a 73 percent increase in emergency food handouts over the past five years.
Almost half of the food bank referrals made last year were the result of a delay in benefit payments under the Universal Credit system, the charity said.Almost half of the food bank referrals made last year were the result of a delay in benefit payments under the Universal Credit system, the charity said.
“Ultimately, it’s unacceptable that anyone should have to use a food bank in the first place,” said Emma Revie, the charity’s chief executive.“Ultimately, it’s unacceptable that anyone should have to use a food bank in the first place,” said Emma Revie, the charity’s chief executive.
“No charity can replace the dignity of having financial security,” she added. “That’s why in the long term, we’re urging the government to ensure benefit payments reflect the true cost of living and work is secure, paying the real living wage, to help ensure we are all anchored from poverty.”“No charity can replace the dignity of having financial security,” she added. “That’s why in the long term, we’re urging the government to ensure benefit payments reflect the true cost of living and work is secure, paying the real living wage, to help ensure we are all anchored from poverty.”