THE coalition government was accused
yesterday of continuing to drive Britain’s low-income families further
and further into poverty — to the point where they cannot even afford to
feed themselves.
Independent charity the Joseph Rowntree
Foundation published a report exposing how the ever-increasing gap
between prices and wages is leaving low-income families struggling to
meet the costs of basic essentials.
The Foundation warned that since 2008 the
price of essentials had soared by 28 per cent, while average wages
increased by just nine per cent.
The government responded by saying tax
cuts — which have handed hundreds of millions of pounds to the wealthy —
are a benefit to low-earners.
But the foundation’s chief executive
Julia Unwin said: “These figures show there is still a lot of work
needed to make up the lost ground for low-income families. The income
they need to make ends meet has soared at a time when their ability to
make up the shortfall is severely constrained.”
She said action was needed to “to help alleviate the pressure on the worst-off households.”
The foundation’s research identified the
levels of wages needed for individuals and families to “afford a minimum
acceptable standard of living.”
It said single people need to be paid
£16,300 a year before tax while a couple with two children need to bring
in a total of £40,600 before tax — an impossibility for most low-wage
earners.
The figures are based on the foundation’s
“minimum income standard,” which sets out the basics to be included in a
minimum household budget according to public opinion.
Report author Abigail Davis said:
“Throughout the past few difficult years, the people we talk to have
held a consistent view of what it means to live at an acceptable level
in the UK.
“It means being able to afford to feed
your family and heat your home properly, but also having enough to buy a
birthday present for your children, and to spend time with your family
away from home, such as the occasional meal out.
“The growing number of people who fall
below this standard are unable to afford basic goods, services and
activities that most of us would take for granted.”
