Universally Screwed

The True Numbers

While reports have found that over the last 20 years poverty in the UK is reducing in the groups that are traditionally at risk - children and pensioners, they've also highlighted that you're more likely to be in poverty if you live in certain regions, or are disabled, or rent privately. 

It's 2020 and Britain has an estimated population of 67.88 million people. With 14.5 million of us living in poverty, and 4 million of us unable to afford basic essentials. 

The Conservative party has been in power for a decade now and consecutive Tory governments under David Cameron, then Theresa May and now Boris Johnson have continued to ignore the ever growing inequality and rising poverty rates in this country. This is a damning indictment on the government and a stain on humanity. 

But it's also a reflection on modern day right wing views on poverty.  

That Therese Coffey Interview

A shining example of the modern day Conservative view on poverty can be seen in Therese Coffey's recent interview with Sky News host Kay Burley. 

As the head of the DWP Coffey was asked about the heartbreaking case of Mercy Baguma, an asylum seeker who was found dead, cradling her starving but luckily alive, infant child. As an asylum seeker Baguma was ineligible for employment and had no recourse to public funds. She had starved to death. 

While rare in occurrence, heartbreaking cases like this do happen and they are happening more often under this callous government. 

When asked about Mercy Baguma and others who have suffered in vain and died a preventable death, Coffey opted for flat out denial and digging her heels in. This is very telling about right wing mentality to anyone who isn't them, those in poverty and asylum seekers.

The Media and The Pandemic

There's a revolving door between the mainstream media and 10 Downing Street. Journalist become MPs and MPs become journalist. For example, The prime minister Boris Johnson worked for The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Spectator. 

While the msm is meant to help hold the government to account, the truth is that their job is to broadcast the government's message to the masses and promoting right wing values such as selfishness, disloyalty, and judging others. 

The media in this country has been complicit in perpetuating negative and incorrect stereotypes. All you have to do is pick up a paper or switch on TV and you are immediately bombarded with poverty porn, welfare shaming, anti-immigrant and pro-nationalism rhetoric. 

Lately there has been an increase in poverty porn on TV; Benefits Street, Council House Britain, Can't Pay We'll Take It Away, Rich House Poor House, The Mega Council Estate Next Door to name just a few. These shows feed in to negative and incorrect stereotypes. 

Working class people are ordinary people. They are your neighbour, your postman, the people who drive the busses and stock the shelves in the supermarket. The nurses who care for you and your loved ones in times of need. The carers who look after your elderly family relatives. 

The global pandemic and resulting lockdown held a magnifying glass to the stark and ever increasing levels of inequality in the UK. It has also highlighted who really keeps this country running and it certainly isn't the bankers or hedge fund managers. 

The Reality

Back when David Cameron was Prime Minister he asked the then head of the DWP Iain Duncan Smith to overhaul the welfare system, and find several billions in cuts along the way too. 

Universal Credit was born, six benefits rolled into one. 

As both a UC claimant and food bank user I'd like to share just one story out of the millions of people walking the breadline, my own experience. 

Universal Credit is means tested and meant to be be able to reflect any changes in your circumstances. But the reality is it's plunged over 1.9 million people into poverty.

As your payment amount can change month on month the DWP produce a monthly 'statement' which breaks down that month's payment. 

Everyday I search for jobs and log into my journal to record this. Earlier this week I logged on as usual and noticed September's statement was available. 

I was apprehensive about checking the statement because a part of me knew I was facing deductions. But with baited breath, I pressed ahead and checked. 

It was worse than I thought.

At first I was numb. 

Then it hit me and I felt like crying. 

For the next five weeks or so, I am screwed. 

So. Effin. Screwed. 

The DWP are deducting over half my payment, leaving me with the choice of either paying my rent OR living for the month (being able to buy food & utilities). 

Infact, the true sum is slightly less than my rent. So even if I put every penny I get towards it, I'll still accumulate rent arrears and I won't be able to survive for the month. 

Shit. 

I am up shit creek without a paddle.

To top it all off my phone has broke. Meaning I've no way of receiving calls from prospective employers to enable me to get out of this situation and it couldn't have come at a worse time as I'm in no position to replace it. 

It's an impossible situation to be in.

Millions of us are one pay check from financial ruin. We don't have safety nets to fall back on. We don't have credit cards, overdrafts or savings to fall back on.  

11.5 million people have less than £100 in savings

Then there's failed Direct Debit fees that will be incurred. Effectively punishing people for being poor.

When faced with the "Do I pay rent or live for a month?" Question, the obvious answer is to pay the rent. But then that poses the follow up question, "How the fuck am I going to eat for the month?". What about topping up the Gas and Electricity meter? 

The short answer is going without for the most part. Pawning what little belongings you have for a pittance. Bills going unpaid and more debt accumulation. 

All while having to continue to search and apply for work, because if you don't you'll get sanctioned. How I'm going to do that when the electricity runs out is beyond me and it's not like employers can call me anyways. 

This is the depressing reality of walking the breadline. Yet it is just one story out of over fourteen million stories.

Update: 

The last few weeks have been tough. Not just for myself but for millions and with the furlough scheme ending soon, things are set to get bad for many more.

I'm still without a phone but I've found it liberating in a way. I'm still searching and applying for work, potential employers will email you if they can't get through to you on the phone. 

Still got just over a week to go until I get paid and it can't come quick enough. Food insecurity and fuel poverty are snapping at my heels. 

Like many others, I've had to start putting the heating on this week. It's not been so bad as it's not too cold right now, but like four million others, I'm a prepay customer for my utilities and it's pretty expensive. 

If I don't land a job in the next few months then winter is going to be hard. Times like this make you feel for those out in this weather all the time. While millions of us may be worrying about keeping the gas and electricity on, some people don't even have a roof. 

If you enjoyed this blog post to can subscribe at the top. Feel free to leave a comment below, and you can find me on Twitter @NorthernLefty