Archive: Poverty

Comment: How psychological techniques can help explain the riots

First things first: don't confuse correlation with causality.

Comment: Cowardice defines our response to the riots

Comment: Inequality is the real cause of the financial crisis

Comment: The politics of public consultation over riots

Revealed: How the recession worsens inequality

Inflation affects rich and poor differently

Inflation is worsening the gap between the rich and poor as rising fuel prices batter the incomes of lower income groups, a new report shows.

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Health inequality slumps to Great Depression levels

Poverty through the ages: Life expectancy might drop

The inequality in life expectancy in the UK is as bad as it was in the Great Depression, new research has found.

Social disparity in the UK is underestimated

Low-earners overestimate where they come on the income scale, while higher earners tend to underestimate their position.

Both rich and poor people in Britain think their earnings are closer to the average than they actually are, according to research published today.

Tory attempt to end minimum wage defeated

Chope says minimum wage would 'restore right to work'

A Tory bill to scrap the minimum wage was withdrawn today and postponed to next month, putting an end to Labour's campaign to keep their anti-poverty policy.

Social mobility white paper focuses on the early years

The white paper is expected to focus on education

The government has publish a white paper on social mobility, with a strong focus on funding early-years education.

Social mobility white paper: Key measures

All the key measures in the government's new social mobility white paper.

Milburn back in govt to help 'disadvantaged'

Gordon Brown has tasked Alan Milburn with improving the life chances of Britain's poorest children, as a report published today reveals class is still the biggest factor in success.

OECD pours scorn on social mobility record

Social mobility continues to blight Britain, a major report concludes, prompting criticism of the government's record on the issue.

Tories and Labour go toe-to-toe on poverty

The Tories will attempt to steal Labour's traditional political territory today when shadow chancellor George Osborne claims the Conservatives are better placed to address poverty.

Tories seek to reunite "divided cities"

Social deprivation to be addressed by Conservatives

Britain's "broken society" is one where "fairness is in danger of being forgotten", Chris Grayling has warned.

Govt secures £225 million assistance for fuel poverty

Govt secures deal with big six on social tariffs

Up to 100,000 households could be lifted out of fuel poverty after the government persuaded the UK's six largest energy suppliers to increase the amount they spend on social programmes.

Govt renews pledge to end rough sleeping

Govt claims progress has been made on rough sleeping

The government has renewed its commitment to ending rough sleeping as far as possible.

Govt abandons supercasinos amid gambling concerns

Manchester supercasino will now not be built

The government has formally dropped plans for a Las Vegas-style supercasino.

Pensions U-turn 'betrays' women

Millions of women will now lose out on their full state pension after the government quietly reneged on a deal that would have allowed them to access full payment.

Social mobility as bad as 1970s

Hughes insists reforms will show progress

Social mobility in the UK has not improved since the 1970s, despite ten years of a Labour government, a report by the Sutton Trust finds today.

Ministers 'drawing back' from child poverty pledge

Caroline Flint insists govt is making progress on child poverty

Gordon Brown has been accused of backing away from his pledge to eradicate child poverty.

Govt targets £70m to help rough sleepers

More than 100 hostels to be built or improved

A government scheme designed to help rough sleepers into work or training will be expanded after the Department for Communities and Local Government agreed to more funding.

MPs urge reform of council tax benefit

MPs urge govt to improve benefit take-up

Council tax benefit must be made easier to claim, MPs have said.

Labour to fight election on inequality

The Labour government will focus on narrowing the divide between rich and poor if it wins a fourth parliamentary term.

Brown passes more power to local authorities

The government is increasingly devolving power to the local level

The government has announced plans to devolve further powers to local levels in an effort to encourage economic development in the country's poorest areas.