The UK government has inflicted “great misery” on its people with “punitive, mean-spirited, and often callous” austerity policies driven by a political desire to undertake social re-engineering rather than economic necessity, the United Nations poverty envoy has found.
He highlighted predictions that child poverty could rise by 7% between 2015 and 2022, possibly up to a rate of 40%.
Austerity Britain was in breach of four UN human rights agreements relating to women, children, disabled people and economic and social rights.
Cuts of 50% to council budgets were slashing at Britain’s “culture of local concern” and “damaging the fabric” of society.
The middle classes would “find themselves living in an increasingly hostile and unwelcoming society because community roots are being broken”.
Charities working to alleviate poverty said the report on the UK was a “wake-up call for government”.
I never thought I would be 48 and in this position – Sharon Morton, 48, at Newcastle Citizens Advice Bureau. »