we need to talk about amber
Following twelve days independently investigating poverty in the UK, Philip Alston, United Nations Special Envoy, has concluded that recent welfare reforms (aka Universal Credit) have officially inflicted undue misery on millions of Britain’s most disadvantaged. His analysis confirms what many suspected: that these reforms, initially introduced under the auspices of austerity, appear now to be motivated less by economic necessity and more by a political will to achieve a high degree of social re-engineering. Not pulling any punches, his report unequivocally states a “punitive, mean-spirited and often callous approach, apparently designed to impose a rigid order on those least capable”.
Now, even as a bleeding-heart liberal I fully get there are pockets of work-shy welfare dependency that needs to be addressed (Jeremy Kyle highlights the existence of a very real underclass most mornings) but drastic welfare cuts and the introduction of Universal Credit are not the answer. The apparent endless stream of errors and non-negotiable sanctions are responsible for contributing to increased levels of despair and deprivation: 14 million people in the UK officially live in poverty with a million and a half (including 365,000 children) being destitute. Take a moment or two to consider those numbers.
Needless to say the government begs to differ and points to record household incomes and joblessness figures, yet no-one seems to hang around this particular office of state (DWP) to fully appreciate the depth of the issues involved. Enter stage left, via the constantly revolving door, the sixth grandee in two years, ex-Home Secretary, Amber Rudd. Yes, In a move reminiscent of placing the fox in charge of the chicken coup, the very same minister who was sacked for misleading the Home Affairs Select Committee and lying to fellow MPs over both the unlawful detention and deportation of asylum seekers and the subsequent ‘Windrush’ scandal, is now the boss.
What may surprise you though, is that Amber should know better. Growing-up in Kensington, her privileged privately-educated path through investment banking to politics will surprise no-one but can you imagine the horror that must have befallen the family when she met, and married the late, notorious hell-raiser, AA Gill. Having been on the p*ss solidly for over ten years I suspect Amber wasn’t overly keen to hand over the housekeeping to him of a Friday night? However, this is one of the central tenets of the new system.
By attempting to mimic realistic work conditions, welfare payments are now made directly to the recipient, and paid ‘a month in hand’. So far.so good but sadly this fails to take account of the chaotic lives of those at the margins of society, those who are perhaps coping with mental health issues, alcoholism, gambling addiction, domestic violence, existing debt complications. Will they be able to pay the landlord, grocer and shopkeeper or will they end up in the foodbank and on the streets? You’ve been there, Ms Rudd, now let’s see you learned that particular lesson and show us there’s a different side to you.
She was irritating and finally got the judge to do what was right.
You might be still be hurting, but support him any way when he needs this.
Do save your time on small details or little phrase. https://utmagazine.ru/r?url=cuci.today