bring a tear to your eye

[LucidDementia]

Yep. There's no poverty anywhere else in the world. It's only if you're unlucky enough to live in George Osborne's UK.

What?
So you're saying that because there's poverty elsewhere it's OK to force people into poverty here? Wow.

[VectraMan]

What?
So you're saying that because there's poverty elsewhere it's OK to force people into poverty here? Wow.

I'm suggesting there may be other factors.

[vetran]

there are plenty of other factors however most of them aren't under the individuals control.

Sanctions seem to be one of the strongest drivers. I'm not sure why the government think random punishments dispensed without any control or caution to the poorest in our society are a good idea.

[GJABS]

The daft thing is the entire national debt could be written off and nobody would be hurt.

Huh?
I've got a few thousand in national savings bonds. I don't think I'd be too happy to be told they're now worthless.

[BrilloPad]

Huh?
I've got a few thousand in national savings bonds. I don't think I'd be too happy to be told they're now worthless.

Most of the national debt is in QE.

[psychocandy]

I wonder how many of those drink, smoke, have sky, mobile phones etcetc.

There is a huge amount of inequality in the UK.

BUT if you were to divide the UK wealth equally, in 6 months there would be a lot of poor people.

What I feel really sorry for is the children of the feckless.

Benefits should be paid in food vouchers. And child benefit in vouchers for child products.

Spot on Brillo. Especially the last bit.

I dont see how anyone can starve these days with the amount of benefits you can get.

I fear that a lot of this is due to a bit of an entitlement culture in this country where people on benefits think they should still have x,y,z.

Being from the valleys (close to you I believe) originally, I know people whos attitude is "Just because I'm on benefits, why shouldn't I have money to go down the pub and enjoy myself. Why should I have to stop smoking. Why should you be able to do these things and I can't just because you're working? Its not fair".

Seriously. Scares me sometimes that people believe this.

[psychocandy]

w0rd

Places like those BrightHouse spivs don't help matters.

tulipehouse. If you're on benefits stay well away. You don't NEED a 40" TV on 75% apr. Wait until you get a job.

Unfortuantely, a lot of benefit claimants wont get off their arse to do so.
Where I was born and brought up, 30 mins bus/train to cardiff but people won't do it. Would rather moan and say "theres no jobs around here. Its hard in the valleys".

[DimPrawn]

Here's me buying a fancy motor and there's folks back home skipping meals for the sake of the little ones. Being father myself to two smalls makes it all the more harder reading.

Sell that vulgar car, buy a bus pass and give the money to a "UK poverty" charity. Then someone "poor" in the UK can some extra Sky channels for Christmas.

You selfish, rich, bastard.

[fullyautomatix]

Corbyn will fix this. I cant see anybody else wanting to bridge the gap between the rich and poor. Tax breaks for rich and benefits cut for poor. When Corbyn comes in, there will be a dramatic shift in social and economic inequality. The rich( earning more than 300K) should be taxed 90% and should taper down to 50% for middle income ( 40K). Benefits need to be doubled at a minimum so that the poor can climb the ladder to middle class level.

Early next year there should be a call for fresh elections because the current government isnt working and people want Corbyn in asap.

[d000hg]

If you know how much fresh produce the supermarkets ensure doesn't end up in the food chain due to it's look you would realise Osborne isn't the only one to blame.

You're talking about food that gets chucked before ever being bought, rather than food waste, I think? As opposed to

That's a fairly delusional standpoint. The produce they bin is theirs to do with as they please

Which sums up beautifully the greed of pure capitalism... companies paying money to spoil their food to prevent anyone eating it.
And in some countries, it is NOT theirs do do with as they please, there are actually laws about food waste. (Just as with other waste)

However there is some truth here - all that food not being wasted would still be for sale and people would have to buy it. Using waste food is a great thing to help the poor and destitute but it's not a solution, because those people shouldn't be in the position of relying on hand-outs in the first place in a wealthy, civilised nation with a decent welfare system.

I wonder how many of those drink, smoke, have sky, mobile phones etcetc.

Yes, education is a big part of the solution. These people (and they do exist though they're not as common as Daily Mail readers believe) don't know better, they should be helped not victimised.

And I'm kind of with DP - if this kind of thing upsets you, do something to help. If you don't like big charities, donate to your local foodbank or church-run soup-kitchen or whatever grass-roots stuff you can find.