Picture a country where a fifth of the population lives in poverty. People have to choose between eating or heating their homes and children go to school hungry. Homelessness is rising. And basic services are in crisis, leaving many struggling to cope.
This is the damning indictment, delivered by a UN official, not of a developing economy or war-torn nation but of the UK – the world’s fifth biggest economy. [...]
A fundamental overhaul of the benefits system and widespread cutbacks have placed increasing pressure on already stretched and underfunded services including the police and doctors, the report says. The “punitive, mean-spirited and often callous” approach taken by government to supporting society’s most in need has driven further inequalities. [...]
In response, the government pointed to the UN’s own data that the UK comes 15th on the list of the happiest places in the world to live. [...]
It ranked 21st overall, falling near the bottom on many of the key indicators including healthy life expectancy and income inequality.
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