'Poverty is out of control': Over half of Brits say Labour not doing enough to help people in poverty

It’s estimated that 3.8 million people in the UK live in the most extreme form of poverty. They are struggling to afford food, clothes and to keep themselves warm – the basics they need to survive. 

Communities up and down the country have been decimated after 14 years of Conservative governments which saw local budgets and public services slashed.  

Keir Starmer promised to “deliver the change our country needs” when he spoke to Big Issue ahead of July’s general election. It is why tens of thousands of people switched their vote to Labour – some for the first time ever.  

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But, less than 100 days since the result of the election, and in the wake of controversies around the two-child benefit cap and the winter fuel payment for pensioners, more than half (54%) of Brits believe the government is not doing enough to help people in poverty.  

That’s according to YouGov polling commissioned by the Big Issue Group, which shows that the public believe the government is doing “too little” to alleviate poverty in their local area.  

Nearly half (45%) of people believe their local areas have changed for the worse over the last few years, and only 7% reported a change for the better. 

Big Issue is demanding action. The Big Issue Group is calling for the first-ever ‘Poverty Zero’ law which would force governments to set legally binding targets to reduce poverty – as with net zero. 

The number of people in the UK living in extreme poverty and struggling to survive has almost doubled in the last seven years. That’s why the Big Issue Group wants the a ‘Poverty Zero’ law to tie the government to eradicating destitution by 2035. 

John Bird, founder of the Big Issue, said: “Poverty is out of control, and our politicians repeatedly fail to act fast enough. We refuse to accept this. A new ‘Poverty Zero’ law would hold their feet to the fire.”

The public can turn their anger into action by writing to their MP and becoming a Big Issue member, supporting the organisation’s work and enabling Big Issue to create positive solutions so even more people in the UK can work and earn their way out of poverty.  

Rhiannon Steeds, campaigns manager at Big Issue, said: “This campaign is about giving the anti-poverty movement some teeth, in the form of legal challenge. 

“By creating a tool to hold governments to account on poverty reduction, we’re looking to turn the fine words we so often hear from Westminster into real action for the millions of people struggling to meet their basic needs.”

More than two thirds (69%) of people believe that local issues are more effectively resolved when people and organisations work together in their community to achieve change.

In light of these findings, the Big Issue Group is launching a new Big Community initiative, designed to bring local people together to find solutions to poverty in their areas.

This includes a community road show, the first of which will visit Newcastle-upon-Tyne next week. Big Issue teams will be based in the city for a week to listen, support and report on overlooked local issues.

“We’re taking the Big Issue on the road,” Bird said. “We want to bring local people together and support communities to tackle poverty head-on.”

The public can also back this campaign by signing up to the Big Issue’s Membership scheme and enabling the Big issue to create positive solutions so even more people in the UK can work and earn their way out of poverty.

Bird added: “If you too are outraged by this country’s poverty crisis, stand with us. Become a member of the Big Issue and show those in power that we won’t put up with their inaction.”

Big Issue is demanding an end to extreme poverty. Will you ask your MP to join us?

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