Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, was quoted as voicing strong concerns about the current state of poverty in the United Kingdom in a recent interview with The Guardian.
De Schutter identified that, in his view, the levels of poverty in the UK are “simply not acceptable,” and stated that he believes the UK government is in violation of international law due to insufficient social protection measures, such as those concerning an adequate standard of living. With welfare payments in the UK falling behind the rising cost of living, De Schutter urged that the UK’s international obligations can be upheld by increasing universal credit.
In response to these comments, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister declared that the UK government has not failed to meet its international commitments. On the other hand, the spokesperson argued that household are indeed better off in full-time work than receiving benefits, as they specified the government’s successes in lowering poverty levels and reducing the number of children growing up in workless households since 2010. Furthermore, De Schutter reminded that the government provided a significant level of support in the wake of the pandemic, including a substantial contribution towards people’s energy bills in light of high inflation.
These remarks from De Schutter on the state of UK poverty come concurrent to Home Secretary Suella Braverman facing criticism over her propositions to restrict the use of tents by those sleeping rough. This, she alleges, is a “lifestyle choice” agreed upon by many. Homeless NGO Crisis publicly urged Braverman to rethink her plans, voicing that it is crucial to address housing solutions and provide support services for those facing homelessness. In addition, the organization suggested a rise in housing benefit to ensure that “people can afford their rent.”
De Schutter will visit the UK later this week, during which he plans to prompt the government to increase spending on welfare.