The govt is allowing millions to slip into poverty.

Labour must be bold and speak out.

Toby Lipatti-Mesme

Dec 9, 2020·2 min read

People are hurting, and the govt’s lacklustre plans for welfare see millions now slipping further into poverty, and sinking below the line for the first time. The number may have doubled according to some experts, and we’re without a doubt facing a wave of suffering, that goes on top of the destitution already allowed to develop under the Tories.

Labour have been cautious but spoke out (and rightfully so) in certain areas; calling for an extension of the Universal Credit boost, calling for No Recourse To Public Funds to be scrapped during a pandemic, but they must be bold here, they’re the only thing standing between millions and unnoticed poverty, no one else has the platform to shame the govt into action, and how better to do such than to propose the following actions, prompting a reaction from the Tories.

1. Labour must commit to a mass council house building programme, as proposed in the last election, prioritising getting a roof over the heads of the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.
2. A guarantee no one will sleep on the street in Britain, using the power of the British state to ensure (as we did during the pandemic) we eliminate homelessness as a matter of urgency.
3. Scrapping of Universal Credit and replacement with a Universal Basic Income. Do a presser featuring economists and experts making the case for this, and say it’s a solution to both reform and simplify welfare, and make good on the promise of a wealthy nation to ALL its citizens.
4. Challenge the Tories to create a comprehensive plan to keep people out of poverty and in affordable housing, and criticise in public when they fail to out of adherence to outdated dogma.

These moves will put pressure on the Tories as the Overton Window shifts, while simultaneously letting Labour dominate the argument and have a policy plank the case for which has already been made to the public, ready for the next election. Let’s do what our party was made for, and tackle poverty, improving conditions for working people.