"Poverty Normalised: The UK's Apathy to Suffering"
In a stark assessment of the country's priorities, some argue that poverty has become the new normal in the UK. For 15 years and counting, successive governments have chosen austerity over action, exacerbating the lives of millions who are struggling to make ends meet.
A recent study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals an alarming trend: increasing numbers of people cannot afford basic needs, despite their best efforts. This has led to a surge in demand at food banks and other agencies, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.
Liam Purcell, CEO of Church Action on Poverty, criticises the lack of understanding among policymakers who have never experienced poverty firsthand. "There are remarkably few ways for people to truly shape government decisions that will determine their own lives," he notes. This lack of participation and input is compounded by the closure or sale-off of shared community spaces, making it even harder for people to come together in times of need.
However, there is hope on the horizon. Upcoming policy changes, such as the removal of the two-child benefits cap, expansion of free school meals, and uprating of universal credit and minimum wage, will bring significant support to families struggling with poverty.
Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, Director of the East Kent Poverty Study, welcomes these developments but cautions that more needs to be done. "Debates about welfare and defence are often framed as a choice between 'guns and butter', missing the fundamental issue of national resilience," he notes. The UK's reliance on poverty as a normalised state weakens its ability to respond effectively in times of crisis, such as wartime.
Dr Simon Nieder, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, makes a compelling case that this ' precarity' is not just an individual problem but a societal one. "National resilience depends on whether people have enough stability to endure shock," he warns. The UK's prioritisation of austerity over support for the most vulnerable populations has left millions living in survival mode, compromising the country's ability to respond to crises.
As the debate around poverty and welfare continues, it is clear that a fundamental shift is needed. One that prioritises understanding and participation from those affected by policy decisions. Only then can we hope to create a society where everyone has access to basic needs and security – not just a 'normalised' state of poverty.
In a stark assessment of the country's priorities, some argue that poverty has become the new normal in the UK. For 15 years and counting, successive governments have chosen austerity over action, exacerbating the lives of millions who are struggling to make ends meet.
A recent study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals an alarming trend: increasing numbers of people cannot afford basic needs, despite their best efforts. This has led to a surge in demand at food banks and other agencies, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.
Liam Purcell, CEO of Church Action on Poverty, criticises the lack of understanding among policymakers who have never experienced poverty firsthand. "There are remarkably few ways for people to truly shape government decisions that will determine their own lives," he notes. This lack of participation and input is compounded by the closure or sale-off of shared community spaces, making it even harder for people to come together in times of need.
However, there is hope on the horizon. Upcoming policy changes, such as the removal of the two-child benefits cap, expansion of free school meals, and uprating of universal credit and minimum wage, will bring significant support to families struggling with poverty.
Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, Director of the East Kent Poverty Study, welcomes these developments but cautions that more needs to be done. "Debates about welfare and defence are often framed as a choice between 'guns and butter', missing the fundamental issue of national resilience," he notes. The UK's reliance on poverty as a normalised state weakens its ability to respond effectively in times of crisis, such as wartime.
Dr Simon Nieder, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, makes a compelling case that this ' precarity' is not just an individual problem but a societal one. "National resilience depends on whether people have enough stability to endure shock," he warns. The UK's prioritisation of austerity over support for the most vulnerable populations has left millions living in survival mode, compromising the country's ability to respond to crises.
As the debate around poverty and welfare continues, it is clear that a fundamental shift is needed. One that prioritises understanding and participation from those affected by policy decisions. Only then can we hope to create a society where everyone has access to basic needs and security – not just a 'normalised' state of poverty.
#PovertyIsNotNormal, you know? It's like, we're living in a world where people are struggling to put food on the table, yet we're still debating whether or not to cut funds for social services 
. The fact that governments have been ignoring poverty for 15 years is just ridiculous 
#AusterityIsNotTheAnswer. We need to start listening to the voices of those who are most affected by policy decisions 
. It's not about politics, it's about basic human decency 
. I'm all for change and hope that these upcoming policy changes will bring some relief to families struggling with poverty 
#NewBeginnings #PovertyIsNotJustForThePoor.
. It's like they're saying 'oh well, you'll just have to make do'. No way, we need systemic change here, not just band-aid solutions.
They need to be part of the problem-solving process, not just making decisions from behind a desk. And those community spaces are being closed or sold off - it's like they're taking away our safety net.
. Removing the two-child benefits cap and expanding free school meals are good starts. And uprating universal credit and minimum wage can make a real difference to families struggling with poverty. But we need more than just tokenistic gestures - we need real, meaningful change that prioritises people over austerity.
I'm genuinely worried about what's happening in the UK right now... 15 years of austerity is UNACCEPTABLE! 
poverty shouldn't be seen as the new normal, it's just a reflection of a system that's failing its most vulnerable citizens.
The UK's inability to respond effectively in times of crisis is a huge concern – what if there was a pandemic or economic downturn? We'd be woefully unprepared because we're not investing in our most vulnerable populations.
Let's work together to create a society where everyone can thrive, not just survive on the fringes.
Food banks are getting slammed and I'm all for them helping out, but we need a better solution than just patching things up with some policy changes.
IT'S LIKE THEY'RE FORGETTING THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET EVERY DAY!!! 
THE RECENT STUDY BY THE JOSEPH ROWNTREE FOUNDATION SHOWS A DARK TRENDS OF INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD BASIC NEEDS, DESPITE THEIR BEST EFFORTS!!! 
WE NEED TO CREATE A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS AND SECURITY, NOT JUST A "NORMALISED" STATE OF POVERTY!!! 
It might be making people more resourceful and independent, you know? Like, if everyone had to scrape by, they'd be more grateful for what they have and stuff. 
. Removing the two-child benefits cap and expanding free school meals are huge wins! But, like, we need more than just that. We need a fundamental shift in how our gov treats poverty. We need ppl who have experienced it firsthand to be at the table making decisions. Anything less is just not enough 
. And the fact that community spaces are closing or being sold off is just ridiculous – who's looking out for these people? 
. Can't we just try to do better?
food banks r flooded & ppl r losin hope its time 4 change tho, removal of benefits cap & expansion of free school meals might b a good start 
uk's reliance on poverty weakens national resilience 
. That's like the entire population of Manchester 
struggling to get by.
️, but we need more 
. The minimum wage needs to be increased too 
.
. Policymakers need to listen to those who are struggling the most. The lack of understanding and participation is really holding us back 
. And what about the closure of community spaces? That's just another way to push people further down 
.
. It's not just about austerity; it's about creating a society where everyone has access to basic needs and security 
. Let's get behind this movement and make some real change 
!
, can you imagine? But anyway, these new policy changes sound like a good start, but we need to do more to address the root causes of poverty. We should be building resilience not just for ourselves, but for our communities and our country as a whole 
. These new policy changes sound promising, but we gotta ask ourselves why it took so long for things to get this bad 
. Its all about saving money and cutting benefits instead of making sure ppl have enough to live on 
. The fact that ppl are having to rely on food banks is just heartbreaking 
