Record number of people in UK live in ‘very deep poverty’, analysis shows

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/27/very-deep-poverty-uk-record-numbers-joseph-rowntree-foundation-analysis

52 points · 19 comments · view on lemmy.world

19 Comments

toebert@piefed.social · 20 pts · 241d

Luckily, the focus is on the important things. The government doesn't have the resources to help the people who can't afford to eat, when there are such problems still around as kids using social media.

Somehow food and shelter doesn't seem to make it into the "protect the kids" bills they push..

/s, just in case

T00l_shed@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 241d (13 replies)

Thanks capitalism

Prove_your_argument@piefed.social · 17 pts · 241d (12 replies)

Thanks brexit

deHaga@feddit.uk · -13 pts · 241d (11 replies)

Retarded Brexit comment of the week 🎖️

GardenGeek@europe.pub · 5 pts · 241d (10 replies)
deHaga@feddit.uk · 0 pts · 241d (9 replies)
GardenGeek@europe.pub · 5 pts · 241d (8 replies)

GDP per capita doesn't contradict the statements of the sources I posted above since it's a mean of economic activity and therefore, it does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about winners and losers among social groups after Brexit. Also interesting you chose 'fixed 2015 US $' when this was an all-time-high exchange rate (US $ - £) compared to the one in your selected time frame.

https://www.cer.eu/insights/brexit-four-years-answers-two-trade-paradoxes

https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/lessons-from-brexit-on-the-effects-of-trade-disintegration-20260116.html

https://academic.oup.com/oxrep/article/38/1/82/6514758?login=false

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/slowing-economic-growth-brexit-and-the-productivity-challenge/

deHaga@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 241d (7 replies)

I didn't choose the measure, the OBR did.

Normalising in dollars is normal.

GardenGeek@europe.pub · 3 pts · 241d

Yes it's normal and usually makes sense. In this particular case, however, it distorts the data basis, as the UK GDP is valued higher than the two eurozone countries due to the very high reference exchange rate.

And I said 'you' because you could have chosen other normalizations as well... yielding a different picture.

For example you could normalize by annual % growth of GDP.

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?end=2024&locations=GB-DE-FR&start=2007

(Side note: Thanks for the source, this database is amazing!)

Korhaka@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 241d (3 replies)

How about the job centre not being so shit and actually help rather than hinder people getting jobs? If these people had full time jobs they wouldn't be in poverty.

gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 241d (2 replies)

where does the idea come from that people who work can afford basic life?

Korhaka@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 241d (1 reply)

This is a UK community, the article lists poverty at £14k, minimum wage here for full time work is about £25k. In the UK you cannot be in poverty and full time work. Minimum wage here is one of the best on the planet.

withabeard@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 241d

And how many "minimum wage" jobs nowadays are actually full time?

Most of them that I see advertised are pro-rata advertised. Under houred or zero contract. But of course if you take two jobs you'll eventually end up with rota clashes and lose one of those jobs. So good luck there.