The majority of British children will soon be growing up in families which are struggling “below the breadline” because of welfare cuts, tax rises and wage freezes, the Government is warned today.
Within two years, almost 7.1m of the nation’s 13m youngsters will be in homes with incomes judged to be less than the minimum necessary for a decent standard of living, according to a new report.
The figures, which emerged a week ahead of George Osborne’s Budget, suggest that an unwanted legacy of the Coalition’s squeeze on spending will be to leave more children living close to poverty.
They coincide with a new survey for the Resolution Foundation think-tank, which found that almost seven in ten of people believe the Government does not understand the financial strains they face.
The impact on children of the economic downturn and austerity measures was underlined by an analysis that concluded that the number of under-18s living in households below minimum income standards would increase by 690,000 between 2010 and 2015. The definitions of acceptable living standards are drawn up by the respected charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Today’s report said 460,000 children would be pushed below those levels by the increase in VAT and cuts to tax credits, 170,000 by sluggish wage growth and 80,000 by the curbs on public sector pay. Just 20,000 would be raised above the minimum level by the new Universal Credit system, which begins to come into force in October.
The TUC, which commissioned the research by the economist Howard Reed, said the figures should “shame” any civilised society and challenged Mr Osborne to cut VAT to ease the pressures on the lowest income families.
The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. The true measure of a man is this: how quickly he can respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give - Philip K. Dick.
Thanks for posting thsi article WUB. Howard Reed is right, this is shameful and it shouldn't be happening in a place like the UK. It's looking quite grim for a lot of people at the moment. Let's see what the budget will bring. I dread to think!
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Majority of British Children to be Below Breadline by 2015
13 Mar 2013 17:32 #3
I wonder what all the corrupt, lying, greedy, scum-bag politicians would consider enough to have a decent standard of living.
For the plebs like us?
If that's what you mean, how about not dying, or having the strength to go on a Workfare course? Of course, those poverty stricken children could be sent to stack shelves in Poundstretcher or Tesco.
News articles like this actually make me feel very depressed and worried about the future, for all of us.
This ought to be a tipping point because you can now say quite confidently that the majority of families are being affected by the prevailing economic conditions. This is still a pretty limited report because, just to pick up two very simple points, it's probably greatly underestimating the extent of inflation and money devalutation, and, of course, this trend won't end in 2015!
The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. The true measure of a man is this: how quickly he can respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give - Philip K. Dick.
Wagon Wheels are tiny now. Have you seen how much they've shrunk? At this rate, they'll be the size of chocolate buttons five years from now.
WUB, I'm very much on the fence about all of this, because I do know a fair few relatively affluent families. They won't be affected by all of this, unless interest rates suddenly increase!
On the other hand, plenty of other families will be affected. I worry about this. In some respects, I am lucky in not having to pay a mortgage or rent and I have no debt. I've noticed the pinch and I worry about money, but how do people paying private rental (or with a large-ish mortgage) manage on the same amount of money? Life must be really grim for them.
For now, I feel hard done by if I can't afford my organic chicken breast and goodies from Waitrose. I'm not rich by other people's standards, but we get to go on holiday twice a year and I can get my lad whatever he needs. No worrying about new shoes etc. Tbh, these things make me feel safe and being able to do nice stuff and eat good quality food gives me something to look forward to - I am a manic depressive as you know! Poverty sucks ass. When you're poor, there's nothing to look forward to, life is a drudge and every day is the same. The prospect of that frightens me if I am to be honest.
There is no silver bullet, it will take a hugely concerted effort from a lot of people over a long period of time. It won't be solved in our lifetime. All you can do is look after your lad, and teach him good values, try to help out other people when you can, and take pleasure in simple things. Don't let it get you down, 'cause you're a good lass, and it's not your fault.
The one thing that bothers me is the push to cram people into cities. I'm sort of separate from the insane, commercialised madness at the moment, and as independent as it's possible to be, I really don't want to be plunged back into it.
The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. The true measure of a man is this: how quickly he can respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give - Philip K. Dick.
There is no silver bullet, it will take a hugely concerted effort from a lot of people over a long period of time. It won't be solved in our lifetime. All you can do is look after your lad, and teach him good values, try to help out other people when you can, and take pleasure in simple things. Don't let it get you down, 'cause you're a good lass, and it's not your fault.
The one thing that bothers me is the push to cram people into cities. I'm sort of separate from the insane, commercialised madness at the moment, and as independent as it's possible to be, I really don't want to be plunged back into it.
I have to admit, I've noticed London is the only place that seems to have any salaries worth mentioning.
Totally deliberate ofc.
“Fascists are not human. A snake is more human.” - Hugo Chávez
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Majority of British Children to be Below Breadline by 2015
13 Mar 2013 20:31 #14
Get some lawyers, too dig a trench 100 metres long 12 foot deep, and get them too line up Polys, Bureaucrats , Economists, Rich Bankers. Ruling Elite, Corrupt Lawmakers, and tell them they are going to get there photo taken for prosperity
And use a Metal Storm on there asses
when finished cover over hole plant an orchard on top Apple tree's , Apricots etc everyone wins , Nature, we do hey look we even get an orchard out of it its a win win situation
I Speak Four Languages Sarcasm English Profanity, And Real Shit...
When we hang the capitalists they will sell us the rope we use.
Joseph Stalin
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Majority of British Children to be Below Breadline by 2015
13 Mar 2013 20:31 #15
There is no silver bullet, it will take a hugely concerted effort from a lot of people over a long period of time. It won't be solved in our lifetime. All you can do is look after your lad, and teach him good values, try to help out other people when you can, and take pleasure in simple things. Don't let it get you down, 'cause you're a good lass, and it's not your fault.
The one thing that bothers me is the push to cram people into cities. I'm sort of separate from the insane, commercialised madness at the moment, and as independent as it's possible to be, I really don't want to be plunged back into it.
Cheers WUB.
I don't want to be a part of it either, and to a large extent I'm not. It does get you down though. In theory, there's no need for anyone to have to live a miserable life and eat dodgy Finus ready meal horse shit. What's going on right now is blatant social engineering, but to what end? I'm not sure, but it seems to be a blatant attack on the poor and vulnerable.
I suppose I'm trying to distance myself from the rampant consumerism. Mind you, at this rate people won't have the money to spend anyway.
About the move to get everyone into the cities...Agenda 21 isn't it? I'm all for sustainability and caring about the environment, but so it benefits everyone. This is about taxes and controlling people imo. Also, if everyone is poor, won't that just make the economy and employment worse? Sorry if these are the ponderings of a simpleton...
There is no silver bullet, it will take a hugely concerted effort from a lot of people over a long period of time. It won't be solved in our lifetime. All you can do is look after your lad, and teach him good values, try to help out other people when you can, and take pleasure in simple things. Don't let it get you down, 'cause you're a good lass, and it's not your fault.
The one thing that bothers me is the push to cram people into cities. I'm sort of separate from the insane, commercialised madness at the moment, and as independent as it's possible to be, I really don't want to be plunged back into it.
I have to admit, I've noticed London is the only place that seems to have any salaries worth mentioning.
Totally deliberate ofc.
Seriously Andy, round here you're very lucky if you manage to get a local job paying minimum wage. However, it is much cheaper to live outside of London. I'm not sure how it all balances out though.
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Majority of British Children to be Below Breadline by 2015
13 Mar 2013 20:48 #18
There is no silver bullet, it will take a hugely concerted effort from a lot of people over a long period of time. It won't be solved in our lifetime. All you can do is look after your lad, and teach him good values, try to help out other people when you can, and take pleasure in simple things. Don't let it get you down, 'cause you're a good lass, and it's not your fault.
The one thing that bothers me is the push to cram people into cities. I'm sort of separate from the insane, commercialised madness at the moment, and as independent as it's possible to be, I really don't want to be plunged back into it.
I have to admit, I've noticed London is the only place that seems to have any salaries worth mentioning.
Totally deliberate ofc.
Seriously Andy, round here you're very lucky if you manage to get a local job paying minimum wage. However, it is much cheaper to live outside of London. I'm not sure how it all balances out though.
They're still shit wages.
Someone like me can expect what appears to be around 65k to 75k in London for what I do, but then theres the tax to come off that then your travel in and out of london every bloody day as you say then there's the wife n 4 kids to pay for and the council tax and all that crap so its still bugger all
I'd literally have to be offered something like 150k PAYE for it to be worth me coming back to the UK and then in a rural location.
Can't see that happening...
“Fascists are not human. A snake is more human.” - Hugo Chávez
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Majority of British Children to be Below Breadline by 2015
13 Mar 2013 20:49 #19
Get some lawyers, too dig a trench 100 metres long 12 foot deep, and get them too line up Polys, Bureaucrats , Economists, Rich Bankers. Ruling Elite, Corrupt Lawmakers, and tell them they are going to get there photo taken for prosperity
And use a Metal Storm on there asses
when finished cover over hole plant an orchard on top Apple tree's , Apricots etc everyone wins , Nature, we do hey look we even get an orchard out of it its a win win situation
Black Dog, I feel compelled to say I totally disagree with the attitude you're displaying here.
I say simply use common gardening implements. You don't need cutting edge firearms. And that has the added bonus of helping dig the orchard afterwards.
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Majority of British Children to be Below Breadline by 2015
13 Mar 2013 20:50 #20
I don't want to be a part of it either, and to a large extent I'm not. It does get you down though. In theory, there's no need for anyone to have to live a miserable life and eat dodgy Finus ready meal horse shit. What's going on right now is blatant social engineering, but to what end? I'm not sure, but it seems to be a blatant attack on the poor and vulnerable.
2 billion live on $2 per day, what makes anyone think that it couldn't happen here? The 'system' will protect us? The government wouldn't let it happen? 'Our economy' is too strong for such a thing to occur? There's no reason to suppose that Britain will end up any different from the vast majority of the world where most of the population work for a pittance - if they're lucky - and have no social mobility.
I've probably mentioned this programme before, but everyone should watch some of these if they get the chance:
It's the worst propaganda show ever. I was disgusted and apoplectic when I happened to catch a bit of it.
Five pampered British kids embark on the adventure of a lifetime, travelling across Asia to work and live alongside the people who make their favourite things.
The five British kids have moved to Bangkok, Thailand's capital to have a go at making jeans in a factory making thousands of pairs for the international market. The rising tropical heat is proving too much for some of them as they are asked to work outside under a metal canopy where the jeans are finished and distressed. They are taken aback to learn that many of the workers live and work within the factory compound and after their shift visit some of the workers who have made the jeans factory their home. As their own homesickness takes hold, how will they handle seeing families separated from each other because of work?
At no time was it explained to them that it doesn't have to be this way, I assure you. Quite the opposite.
These things do get you down, but as Andy often says all you can do is do what you can. Look after your own, help others when you can, speak out when possible, get close to nature, take pleasure in simple things.
The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. The true measure of a man is this: how quickly he can respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give - Philip K. Dick.
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Of course, those poverty stricken children could be sent to stack shelves in Poundstretcher or Tesco.
- It's missing the part saying "And the government don't give a fuck, pretend everything's great" 
