Biggest rise in ‘absolute poverty’ for 30 years seen in UK

from Press TV

The United Kingdom has seen the biggest rise in “absolute poverty” in 30 years, according to new data published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

In Britain “relative poverty” refers to the citizens whose income is 40 percent below the national average, and “absolute poverty” measures the number of people who cannot afford a set standard of living.

UK Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said, “This is a devastating rise and behind these numbers will be stories of children going hungry and families unable to heat their homes.”

Meanwhile, shadow employment and social security minister Alison McGovern commented that the “Conservative government crashed the economy and unleashed a cost of living crisis, pushing families across the country into poverty and a million children into destitution.”...

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