Press release from the Equality and Human Rights Commission as it publishes its final report on the impact of tax and social security changes in the UK over the last few years yesterday:
Four months after releasing our interim report, we have today released our final cumulative impact assessment, exposing how much individuals and households are expected to gain or lose, and how many adults and children will fall below an adequate standard of living, as a result of recent changes to taxes and social security.
The report, which looks at the impact reforms from 2010 to 2018 will have on various groups across society in 2021 to 2022, suggests children will be hit the hardest as:
*an extra 1.5 million will be in poverty
*the child poverty rate for those in lone parent households will increase from 37% to over 62%
*households with three or more children will see articularly large losses of around £5,600
The report also finds:
*households with at least one disabled adult and a disabled child will lose over £6,500 a year, over 13% of their annual income
*Bangladeshi households will lose around £4,400 a year, in comparison to ‘White’ households, or households with adults of differing ethnicity, which will only lose between £500 and £600 on average
*lone parents will lose an average of £5,250 a year, almost one-fifth of their annual income
*women will lose about £400 per year on average, while men will only lose £30
The negative impacts are largely driven by changes to the benefit system, in particular the freeze in working-age benefit rates, changes to disability benefits, and reductions in Universal Credit rates.
David Isaac, the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is responsible for making recommendations to Government on the compatibility of policy and legislation with equality and human rights standards, said:
It’s disappointing to discover that the reforms we have examined negatively affect the most disadvantaged in our society. It’s even more shocking that children – the future generation – will be the hardest hit and that so many will be condemned to start life in poverty. We cannot let this continue if we want a fairer Britain.
We are keen to work together with government to achieve its vision of a Britain that works for everyone. To achieve this outcome it is essential that a full cumulative impact analysis is undertaken of all current and future tax and social security policies. We have proved it’s possible and urge the Government to follow our lead and work with us to deliver it.
As well as calling on the Government to commit to undertaking cumulative impact assessments of all tax and social security policies, particularly in order to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty, the Commission is also reiterating its call for government to:
*reconsider existing policies that are contributing to negative financial impacts for those who are most disadvantaged
*review the level of welfare benefits to ensure that they provide an adequate standard of living
The announcement comes one week after the Commission submitted a report to the UN’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) highlighting that the UK’s social security system does not provide sufficient assistance to tackle inadequate living standards.
Download the reports
The cumulative impact of tax and welfare reforms
The impact of welfare reform and welfare-to-work programmes: an evidence review
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Continuity of previous thread.
It is interesting to know that the Tories have chosen the environment as one of the focuses in order to try and tackle the young vote.
This morning I read that this failing government (shades of Trump
is refusing to sign up to the EUs plan to tackle plastic waste.
A prime example f this government shooting itself in the foot on a number of levels.
She says we've all got to 'come together' but why should I forsake my beliefs when I still believe in them? And, when she talks about the will if the people, what about the will of the people of Ireland, Scotland and Gibraltar? 
...
She's still trying to cherrypick and she still hasn't understood the reality of the Irish border problem. She more or less admitted that our best 'deal' would be to remain in the EU. 
It is by no means clear that we could affiliate to selected EU regulatory bodies as 'associate members. If we could, it would be at a cost and we would still be bound by EU regulations.
Looks like the Conservatives MP’s are all ok with it too
The Brexit Ultras know that if they depose her and try to impose their dream of a no deal Brexit they won't get it through Parliament. The 'soft Brexit/no Brexit tories are biding their time. I understand that some are involved in a cross party group...
I think this is a lull. Just wait until the EU negotiators tell her, yet again, that she can't cherrypick.
The extraordinary thing is that had she not painted herself into a corner as soon as she gained the premiership by taking the ultra-Brexit line (no SM, no CU & no ECJ etc) there was a pragmatic solution available in the proposal by Richard North to remain in/rejoin the EEA & EFTA and withdraw via them. But it involves all the red lines!
Personally I'm glad she's made such a mess of it because it makes a rethink much more likely.
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