UK violating its human rights obligations, says UN poverty expert
Philip Alston said policies of austerity introduced in 2010 ‘continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences’.
The UK has violated its human rights obligations through sustained and widespread cuts to social support, a UN poverty expert has claimed.
UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston said policies of austerity introduced in 2010 “continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences”.
Mr Alston, an Australian international law scholar, visited the UK in November last year and his final report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 27.
In the summary of his report, he said that, although the UK is the world’s fifth largest economy, one-fifth of its population (14 million people) live in poverty, and 1.5 million experienced destitution in 2017.
Mr Alston said the Government’s policies had led to the “systematic immiseration (sic) of millions” across Great Britain.
“The bottom line is that much of the glue that has held British society together since the Second World War has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos.
“A booming economy, high employment and a budget surplus have not reversed austerity, a policy pursued more as an ideological than an economic agenda.”
It also recommends restoring local government funding to provide social protection and tackle poverty.
He added: “Considering the significant resources available in the country and the sustained and widespread cuts to social support, which have resulted in significantly worse outcomes, the policies pursued since 2010 amount to retrogressive measures in clear violation of the country’s human rights obligations.”
It added: “Brexit presents an opportunity to re-imagine what the United Kingdom stands for.
“Legislative recognition of social rights should be a central part of that re-imagining.
“And social inclusion, rather than increasing marginalisation of the working poor and those unable to work, should be the guiding principle of social policy.”
A spokeswoman added: “The UN’s own data shows the UK is one of the happiest places in the world to live, and other countries have come here to find out more about how we support people to improve their lives.
“Therefore this is a barely believable documentation of Britain, based on a tiny period of time spent here. It paints a completely inaccurate picture of our approach to tackling poverty.
“All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment and we introduced the National Living Wage, so people earn more in work.”
She added: “This report is a shocking indictment of the brutal cuts to social security introduced by Conservative-led governments since 2010 and the deeply flawed, punitive system that they have created.
“The Government attacked the initial report in November as being ‘political’ and brushed it aside. It must now end this state of denial, listen to the evidence and take urgent action to tackle the profound injustices in our society.”
