Key Points:

1. Current State of Poverty:
   • More than 1 in 5 people in the UK (22%) were in poverty in 2021/22 – 14.4 million people.
   • Poverty rates have returned to around pre-pandemic levels, with 6 million people experiencing ‘very deep’ poverty.
2. Historical Context:
   • Poverty levels have remained largely unchanged since the Conservative-led Governments took power in 2010.
   • Before 1979, poverty levels were around 14%, and in the 1980s, there was an unprecedented rise in poverty under the Conservative Government of Margaret Thatcher.
3. Deepening Poverty:
   • Between 2019/20 and 2021/22, the average person in poverty had an income 29% below the poverty line.
   • 4 in 10 people in poverty were in ‘very deep’ poverty, with an income far below the standard poverty line.
4. Vulnerable Groups:
   • Larger families, families with limited childcare abilities, many minority ethnic groups, disabled people, informal carers, families not in work, part-time workers, the self-employed, and people living in rented accommodation face particularly high levels of poverty.
5. Regional Disparities:
   • Poverty rates vary significantly between UK nations and regions, driven by differences in labor markets, housing markets, and rates of benefit receipt.
6. Cost of Living Crisis:
   • In October 2023, a significant portion of households were in arrears with bills, going without essentials, and reported not having enough money for food.
7. Future Concerns:
   • Inflation, slow benefits adjustment, falling employment, earnings below 2008 levels, and rising housing costs contribute to ongoing economic challenges.

Recommendations:

• Labor Market Support: Help people find secure jobs, especially for those outside the labor market.
• Workplace Rights: Raise basic workplace rights and protections, expand flexible working rights, and improve financial protection for those unemployed.
• Caring Support: Protect time for caring around work and strengthen care services infrastructure.
• Social Security: Ensure social security provides enough income for essentials and establish a ‘social safety net.’
• Pension Security: Raise minimum contribution rates and provide options for a secure retirement.
• Financial Well-being: Help people build savings, access affordable credit, relieve problem debt, and hold assets.
• Housing Access: Expand access to secure homes by building new homes and redistributing existing ones.

Vision for the Future:

• Advocate for a coherent and proportionate plan to end poverty in the UK.
• Emphasize compassion and creative policy innovations based on lived experiences.
• Encourage government action to enable everyone to live with dignity, seize opportunities, and build hope for a better future.

This summary highlights the severity of the poverty situation in the UK and the urgent need for a holistic approach to address its root causes and provide support to vulnerable populations.