World

Victorian poverty returns to Britain

by Paul Conneally | November 30, 2009 at 12:33 am

267 views | 45 Recommendations | 4 comments

A new report suggests that Britain is on the brink of seeing poverty levels rise to those present in Victorian times and that unless the welfare system is overhauled now scenes more familiar to readers of Dicken's will become common place across the UK.

The report says the original goals of Sir William Beveridge, architect of the welfare state, must be rediscovered. Under a new welfare contract, people would have to do "socially useful work" in return for out-of-work benefits, while automatic handouts would be restricted to pensioners. The tax and benefit systems would be merged and simplified.

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YankeeJim

at 04:14 on November 30th, 2009

Millions of people are on the brink of disaster throughout the world. The minute the jobs stops, there will be a disastrous plunge everywhere. The world has not yet averted depression, I think.

mudricky

at 04:21 on November 30th, 2009

I can see that now. It won't be long until there is major problems.

I don't stay in the best of areas, always known for being a deprived area and I can see changes already.

Barbara McPherson

at 10:32 on November 30th, 2009

No country can sustain supporting more and more by fewer and fewer.

Sputnic

at 05:01 on December 1st, 2009

There is loads of money in this country still. UK is one of the richest nations on earth. Benefit payments go back into the economy very quickly, an increase would give the economy a boost.