There are 14,000,000 people in poverty in Britain becuase of austerity, UN Says

Universal Credit waiting times have ‘plunged people into misery and despair’, according to a United Nations envoy.

UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Professor Philip Alston said the introduction of Universal Credit has caused extreme hardship but could easily be reversed by the Government.

He claimed the new benefits policies, which the Government say incentivise paid work, equate to ‘a punitive, mean-spirited, and callous approach’.

But he added: ‘If a new minister was interested, if a new Government were interested, the harshness could be changed overnight and for very little money.’

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, resigned from Theresa May’s Cabinet on Thursday citing her disagreement with the Prime Minister’s Brexit proposal.

Prof Alston made the comments following a 12-day, nine-city trip to the UK on Friday.

According to his report, approximately 14 million people in the UK are living in poverty, with 1.5 million classes as destitute, and unable to afford basic essentials.

Prof Alston also claimed people in poverty will ‘bear the brunt’ of the economic consequences of Brexit.

He said ‘the impact of Brexit on the British people has not been examined as it should be’, adding ‘those in lower income groups are really going to suffer’.

Labour have been quick to condemn the Government for Professor Alston’s findings.

Margaret Greenwood, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary said: ‘I am deeply concerned by the findings of the UN Special Rapporteur’s report. The Government should listen to the people being pushed into poverty by its policies.

‘Universal Credit is failing miserably, leaving families in debt, rent arrears and at risk of becoming homeless.

Three million children are growing up in poverty despite living in a working household. ‘Labour will stop the roll out of Universal Credit, end the benefit freeze and transform the social security system so that it supports people instead of punishing them.’

Source: metro.co.uk

Your Tax Free Donations Are Appreciated and Help Fund our Volunteer Website

Disclaimer: We at Prepare for Change (PFC) bring you information that is not offered by the mainstream news, and therefore may seem controversial. The opinions, views, statements, and/or information we present are not necessarily promoted, endorsed, espoused, or agreed to by Prepare for Change, its leadership Council, members, those who work with PFC, or those who read its content. However, they are hopefully provocative. Please use discernment! Use logical thinking, your own intuition and your own connection with Source, Spirit and Natural Laws to help you determine what is true and what is not. By sharing information and seeding dialogue, it is our goal to raise consciousness and awareness of higher truths to free us from enslavement of the matrix in this material realm.