Poverty in the UK - disappearing according to Boris

Well what changes might have taken place under Corbyn we will never know as he was never given the chance either to fail or prove himself.

Oddly enough the Tories have failed (NHS, Education and other public services) but that apparently is okay.

Very true yehbutnobut.
I think I'll not read anymore of this thread. It makes me sad and stresses me. I really feel very angry towards those who are unsympathetic to people needing help. I hope they never need it, yet a little part of me would like them to experience hard times.

Be careful GrannyGravy

Hard work is a dirty word on here!

I haven't seen any posters being unsympathetic, just pointing out that it is possible to get out of poverty.

Surely that is something all those in poverty should strive for?

So the new Tory voters, who share with the old ones that statistical fact that, although their earnings may be significantly less, they are generally homeowners and have a salary that is more than the cost of their mortgage.

These are the people whose interests are far more aimed at increasing their own wealth than taking others out of poverty. Those who are poor are seen to be lacking in some way. So what do we ask Johnson to do, oh Victorian thinkers? Kill off the poor or just leave them to starve?

It's just worth remembering that all Boris's promises to join up the North East to the North West, the Midlands and London mean those horrible, none home-owning, socially liberal thinking, young people will move into those areas to commute to work (they still have years of it of course). And what will that do? It could well tip these seats back to Labour. Do you really think Johnson will keep those promises?

Hard work is a dirty word on here!

Just how arrogant can some posts get. Are you really suggesting no one but you and the Gravy one on this thread have worked hard?

Now can someone tell me how I can stop reading both your posts and stop this thread coming up on "I'm on."? Simply no point in this discussion.

I wonder what exactly Johnson has in mind for regeneration of the North West, North East and the Midlands. It's going to take more than a fast train line (and a bridge over the Irish Sea ). People want good jobs, fewer boarded up shops and houses, efficient local transport links and communities they can be proud of - and not just in the big cities.

GracesGran Don't be so mean! Checking your tenants pay their rent is hard work .

Jennifer Eccles, what you would you regard as 'hard work' ?
People are run ragged working in the gig economy, they could not work any harder, for very little renumeration
I wish that you would not be so dismissive about a very large section of our community, who have no choice but to work very hard.
It is upsetting , untrue and quite frankly, fucking offensive

Oh not another one resorting to offensive language.

Would you care to respond to my comments Jennifer ?
Instead of deflecting?

So much "bo****ks" on this thread..... Mr.Gravy was a "milkmans boy" in the early hours, went to his apprenticeship during the day and was a "pot boy" in the local pub in the evening.

Not many youngsters would be willing to put those hours in.

GGMK3 how did you get to your esteemed level?

GGMK3 "the Gravy one" sorry you are becoming rude, are you like this in the real world, or just think it's acceptable on virtual forums?

I doubt if many youngsters would have been willing to put in those hours 40 years ago, either, GG13. And nobody is particularly bothered about your current wealth, just your views on 'the poor' and your assumption that lifting yourself out of poverty is somehow easy as long as you put your mind to it.

And if struggle and hard work is so virtuous what do posters think about those who are born into wealth and don't have to work for it?

Going back to the OP, Johnson lied in Parliament. It's no wonder some of his followers want to distract from his lies. Poverty by any measure isn't decreasing, except for one group of people - pensioners, who appear to idolise him, especially female ones.

He knows perfectly well how Universal Credit works, just as he knows raising the minimum wage is little benefit to the lowest paid. The main beneficiaries of the raise will be second income earners in middle income households. Anybody claiming Universal Credit won't benefit.

An effective opposition and honest journalists are needed, to stop the PM getting away with his fake bluster and lies.

Dollymac Don't hold your breath. That one wouldn't know what hard work is.

Yet another thread which has degenerated into personal insults instead of sticking to the subject..
It's clearly impossible to have a rational discussion with some people.

my dad worked over 50 hours a week to hold the family above water. My husband worked over 50 hours a week, no overtime, in a professional job. Real work ethics which took us out of poverty. No ifs, no buts, no-one needs to be in poverty if they are not disabled. I suppose it depends in part on the way thay have been brought up. Sit in a corner smoking a fag and watch the benefits flood in. That is no role model for a child, it only teaches them state dependency

oh dear oh dear, Foul gutter language from those who have not the skills to use alternative words, how they demean themselves

Yet another thread which has degenerated into personal insults instead of sticking to the subject.

Exactly. I would love to involve myself in this discussion but my skin isn’t tough enough to deal with the potential vitriol any comments I make may bring.

GGMK3 "the Gravy one" sorry you are becoming rude, are you like this in the real world, or just think it's acceptable on virtual forums?

I tend to become less than friendly if the people I am talking to parade their wealth while suggesting poverty is all the fault of the poor not being "hardworking" as we have seen on here. A comment that is rude in itself in my estimation. This type of thinking is usually followed by "defending" wealth by attacks on what they suggest are others views of it. Again rudeness. This time by arrogant supposition. We also tend to see those who think this way despising any help above workhouse level given to those who paid into the state to insure themselves against life's vicissitudes. Again, despicable and rude to other people.

Yes, I do believe the very wealthy should pay more not less tax pro rata, or at least the same as the poor to middle income do. I will certainly take no lessons on manners from the rude, arrogant and crass on here.

Does being on social media change things. Yes, these people are out of the protective bubble of agreement with however extreme the views the voice are and, it seems, can only rebut arguments by complaining the are not being treated with the fawning agreement the usually get.

I think the level of vitriol you might receive depends on just how much you tell us you and yours are superior and you despise all those who aren't you and you family Shelmis. If you set out, as some do, to be offensive, someone is very likely to call you out on it.

Oh do please join in ShellmissWe need a few more voices of reason.

I am always amazed at how my views are thought so controversial by some on threads like this

I always stress that those in genuine need, the sick, the disabled, should of course be helped by the Welfare State until they are able to return to work, as indeed they already are.

However there are many others who play the system to their advantage.

We all know this don’t we? I have used the example of those who have children they can’t afford, but there are many others.

I still don’t understand why that produces such anger and vitriol from some quarters.

I agree with you GracesGran. I actually wonder if they are all they pretend to be. I really struggle financially (ie I'm poor - very poor), but the people I know in real life don't ever doubt my hard work (or the bad luck I've had). At the age of 64, I still have to work 30-40 hours a week, which is less than I did when I was younger, but it's tough, especially as my health isn't that wonderful.

Life really is too short to be angry with the posters who come out with rubbish about "hard work" and deserving what they have. I just treat them with contempt for being so smug/ignorant/insensitive (delete as appropriate) and generally being incapable of discussing any topic without sneering. They deserve whatever GN will let me get away with.

It produces anger and vitriol JenniferEccles because people such as you exist.

It could be because your views sound arrogant when it come to your own life and dismissive when it comes to others JenniferEccles. You seem to make the comments with no basis in fact or actual knowledge of other people's lives. You are obviously expecting agreement and seem to have no perception as to why people find your comments offensive and no intention of broadening your thinking by finding out. I think you are actually quite happy with this as you don't expect discussion, learning or a change of views and find none agreement with you rhetoric simply "rude".

That doesn't really constitute a discussion.