Poverty in the UK

Author: Daily Times

The UN rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights has delivered his verdict on the impact of austerity on the British people. And in his 24-page report, Philip Alston pulls no punches.

Some 14 million (or one-fifth of the population) are living in poverty. Meanwhile 1.5 million are destitute. Unable to afford basic essentials such as housing, food, clothing or heating. The special envoy notes that subsequent desperation has left many contemplating suicide or selling sex for shelter. This is to say nothing of alarming levels of child poverty which Alston fears could rise up to a rate of 40 percent by 2022.

All of which is a devastating indictment of the Conservative government; from Theresa May to David Cameron. It also offers a cautionary tale for those at the helm of parliamentary democracies. Where seeking the popular vote can become a tempting substitute for the business of actual governance. Something that has been at the heart of the Brexit debacle from the offset. From the facile in-out referendum. To the resignation of the then Prime Minister when the vote did not go his way and which prompted an inevitable leadership bid. To a snap election a year later that was driven more by hubris above all else.

Of course, Margaret Thatcher set the wheels in motion for financial dire straits. For it was a gross misstep to try and transform Britain almost overnight from a manufacturing-based economy to a services-based one. Yet this did not stop New Labour from pursuing this same erroneous path under Tony Blair’s stewardship. Then there is the matter of the vast expenses incurred by warmongering all over the world; no matter what extensive arms sales promise to rake in. Though the present leadership is continuing the practice of giving mega tax breaks to multinational companies. Leaving the people to pick up the tab. Quite literally.

Sadly, the government appears to be in denial about all of this.

The UN report talks of current policies towards the poor being driven not by economics but by “a commitment to achieving radical social re-engineering”. Here again, the ‘credit’ goes to Thatcher. Her declaration back in 1987 that there was no such thing as society gave rise to the cult of the individual and diminishing notions of state responsibility. This was once more adopted by New Labour. Indeed, the latter would have the British people buy the exorbitant myth that everyone was middle-class. As if economic safety-nets could simply be tossed aside whereas, in fact, they needed to be reinforced. Such delusion prevails today.

Mr Alston is scheduled to present his report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva next year. And when he does, Downing Street would do well not to put its head in the sand or, else, try to discredit a world body. Instead, this should be a time for introspection; while chartering a new way forward. Regrettably, there does not appear much hope of this happening any time soon. Not with the Brexit side-show still taking centre-stage and the possibility of yet another change in leadership. All of which may just strengthen the hand of the so-called peoples’ PM: Jeremy Corbyn.  *

Published in Daily Times, November 19th 2018.

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