Evidence to UN highlights extreme poverty in UK

[mani1]

Philip Alston’s visit investigating extreme poverty in the UK likely to cause political row in Britain

A disabled former soldier who said he is so poor that he lost 16kg (2st 7lb) due to a lack of food is among the contributors to the first United Nations investigation into extreme poverty into the UK.

Alexander Tiffin, a 30-year old from the Scottish Highlands, sent a diary of his life on universal credit to Prof Philip Alston, the UN rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, who is coming to Britain in November.

The eminent international human rights lawyer called for submissions from anyone in the UK to establish “the most significant human rights violations experienced by people living in poverty and extreme poverty in the UK”. He is interested in the impact of austerity, universal credit, the advent of computer algorithms making decisions on welfare matters, and Brexit.


Anyone taking part has been asked to set out in no more than 2,500 words what is happening, where he should go and what he should look at. He has set a deadline of 14 September for submissions and academics, thinktanks and charities are among those drafting responses.

The visit is set to be politically controversial. Alston conducted a similar exercise in the US earlier this year, which resulted in public clashes with the Trump administration. In the UK, he wants to know “to what extent austerity has been necessary” and its impact on public services including police, firefighting and libraries.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said it will urge Alston to examine how tougher benefit sanctions lead to greater destitution, which means people not being able to keep warm, fed, dry and clean. It found that last year 1.5 million people fell into destitution at some point – just over one in 50 people – with the highest levels in Manchester, Liverpool and Middlesbrough.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...ls-for-evidence-on-effects-of-austerity-in-uk

 

[MenInG]

Why should UK be any different from the rest of the world? If poverty exists around the world, UK will also have a share of it (much to the surprise of many).

 

[ChuckLee]

This is unacceptable. The UK ain’t a third world country. We have one of the most civilised and advanced economies in the world. With some policy and government changes we can help reduce such things.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This is unacceptable. The UK ain’t a third world country. We have one of the most civilised and advanced economies in the world. With some policy and government changes we can help reduce such things.

Lucky we aren't a third world country, I can't imagine what the underclass would look like without the welfare safety net. It would turn ugly pretty quickly.

 

[ChuckLee]

Lucky we aren't a third world country, I can't imagine what the underclass would look like without the welfare safety net. It would turn ugly pretty quickly.

Through all our government flaws, we have a extremely stable and viable system. A lot of homeless you see self destruct and are where they are because of their actions not so much the system.

Ofc their are exceptions and this is what we need to address.