Poverty in Profile

Let's paint a picture of the stereotypical person below the poverty line in the UK. No job, on the dole, poor education, overweight, teenage parents, prior convictions etc etc.

The fact is that many of these just aren't true. The real picture is something like this: multiple jobs, grew up in an area with a lack of schools, supporting a family, socially excluded. Many of those in poverty in the UK are being portrayed as feckless or work-shy when this simply isn't the case.

What is poverty?

Well in the context of a 'developed nation' like the UK we have to look at relative poverty so this doesn't mean that someone has to be living in a shack with a corrugated roof to be in poverty. The definition given by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation is

‘When a person’s resources (mainly their material resources) are not sufficient to meet their minimum needs (including social participation).’

Why are they in poverty?

Many people have been plunged into poverty for the following increases:

• The cost of living
• Rent
• Fuel cost
• Job insecurity
• Cost of childcare

The media and electoral pressures

The media constantly can be accused of creating sensationalist propaganda against those most vulnerable in society. Some of you may think that this is hyperbole on my part but there is a constant war against those who claim benefits. For these articles the papers and wider media select the most outrageous stories and present them as commonplace. This has created a stereotype for those in poverty which couldn't further from the truth.

Another effect of this is the reluctance of politicians to speak out about these issues in fear of electoral backlash. Of course, who would want more of these 'vile products' of the welfare state? Many voters don't know the benefits of helping those at the bottom of society and close the inequality gap.

The truth:

1. They want to work- 8/9 people out of work are looking for a job or feel as though they can't because of their circumstances.
2. The cost of living has gone up faster than the minimum wage and average wage during the financial crisis
3. The benefits given out have gone down in real terms. Although the figure itself has increased, the value in terms of what can be bought with it has gone down

The solution:

1. Match the minimum wage to the living wage (£7.85)
• This would make the UK population as a whole better off and help to alleviate some of the strain on the budget deficit by increasing tax revenue and possibly decreasing the welfare bill.  
2. Extend free childcare to all 1 and 2 year olds 
• This would allow parents to better manage the costs of having a child. In addition it removes one of the barriers to work. 
3. Increase the amount at which people need to start paying National Insurance contributions

• This will arguably help those in poverty more than increasing the tax threshold. This is because 65p will be lost from every £1 gained from a tax cut, for example if I earn £500 from a tax cut, I will lose £325 of benefits 
4. Don't just help people get jobs
• Help them move from low paid jobs to higher paid jobs
5. Tackle the gap in educational attainment
• Close the gap between those in privileged areas and those in poorer areas where schools aren't as good
• 97% of mothers want their new born children to attend university which shows that people share aspirations across society, not just in the middle classes

Some interesting links:
Measuring poverty when inflation varies
A UK without poverty
Monitoring poverty and social exclusion