More than a million have used UK food banks in the past year

[Herr Tubthumper]

I suspect our poltics are different, but this is a serious question.

Could you offer an example of a person in poverty in Britain 2014.

Working/not working, any benefits to include housing, free health care, prescriptions, school dinners, dental, etc etc.

I fully accept some are better off than others and sometimes that disparity seems unwarranted, but not sure when poverty is so glibbly mentioned as 14% of our population, when we are so aware of the excruciating poverty that many experience in other parts of the world.

It lacks a bit of credibility to me.

I see where you are coming from but when we are talking about the UK we are talking about a wealthy first world country and our definition of poverty should rightly be higher than those of countries you are alluding to. The basics of a roof, warmth, health and education should be an absolute given and also a right in my opinion. And if a million have to use a food bank then something is seriously wrong with the UK.

 

[BigGully]

I see where you are coming from but when we are talking about the UK we are talking about a wealthy first world country and our definition of poverty should rightly be higher than those of countries you are alluding to. The basics of a roof, warmth, health and education should be an absolute given and also a right in my opinion. And if a million have to use a food bank then something is seriously wrong with the UK.

But this was my point earlier and the connotations of the word poverty seems inappropriate and undermines its aim.

I offered my own experience when I had the distribution of free food hampers foisted upon me, I was delivering to those that qualified rather than those that were in need or crisis, but I suspect that charity didnt categorise it as such.

If you or I, won a voucher for a free hamper, would we collect

 

[Nibble]

Nobody should have to live in poverty full stop but it should be unheard of in this country. While we have the likes of Maria Miller claiming £49,000 in false expenses from the public we should certainly not have the public being blamed for turning up at food banks. We shouldn't have a need for them in the first place.

 

[BigGully]

Nobody should have to live in poverty full stop but it should be unheard of in this country. While we have the likes of Maria Miller claiming £49,000 in false expenses from the public we should certainly not have the public being blamed for turning up at food banks. We shouldn't have a need for them in the first place.

But who is living in 'poverty'.

I perhaps accept a void on aspiration, opportunity and financial equity for some and I'll willingly stick the boot into politicians, bankers and footballers but poverty, really ??

 

[Questions]

If you are on 10 pounds an hour as the main wage earner how the feck can anyone buy a house and start a family. It's not possible is it ?

 

[Uncle C]

If you are on 10 pounds an hour as the main wage earner how the feck can anyone buy a house and start a family. It's not possible is it ?

So now EVERYONE has to earn enough to buy a house. Something that has never existed in history.

 

[Creaky]

Ironic isn't it that the 'necessity' for food banks is called a disgrace and at the same time the vast majority of us waste food - 7.2 million tons of it from our homes every year - £12 billion pounds of it!

 

[Mr Bridger]

If you are on 10 pounds an hour as the main wage earner how the feck can anyone buy a house and start a family. It's not possible is it ?

If you cannot afford to start a family, then maybe wait a while until you can afford to , instead of thinking the state should pay for it.

 

[Beach Hut]

If you cannot afford to start a family, then maybe wait a while until you can afford to , instead of thinking the state should pay for it.

Quite, I had a person who worked for our company I had to do an appraisal for who had 5 kids and was not paid enough. I did have to remind him several times it was a lifestyle choice and not the companies fault.

 

[Uncle C]

If you cannot afford to start a family, then maybe wait a while until you can afford to , instead of thinking the state should pay for it.

Careful, that's a bit too right wing for most of the bleeding hearts on here.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

True. But it is rather sad that bright hard working people who have got themselves into a position where they earn well over the national average cannot affort to buy a house; which is the case for some people I know. This to me is absurd. You expect some reward for such achievement...and being able to buy the roof over your head does not seem too much to ask.

Just for my information, what's the percentage of home ownership in Germany, compared to the UK?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

And if a million have to use a food bank then something is seriously wrong with the UK.

Agreed, but I do think the figure is a slightly false one. One million visits to a food bank, not one million people or families.

Could be 100,000 people wash visiting 10 times. Still far too high, but the figure is misleading.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

But who is living in 'poverty'.

I perhaps accept a void on aspiration, opportunity and financial equity for some and I'll willingly stick the boot into politicians, bankers and footballers but poverty, really ??

http://www.poverty.org.uk/summary/key facts.shtml

People need to move away from comparing an impoverished child in a less developed nation to those below the poverty line in the UK.

 

[Mr Bridger]

True. But it is rather sad that bright hard working people who have got themselves into a position where they earn well over the national average cannot affort to buy a house; which is the case for some people I know. This to me is absurd. You expect some reward for such achievement...and being able to buy the roof over your head does not seem too much to ask.

Is it ok to buy the council house you have been living in for years? You family home like.....

 

[Paris]

"Have you seen the date on these marshmellows?"

"Where are the fish sticks, you fish stick selling f...?".

I love that particular series.

 

[Creaky]

http://www.poverty.org.uk/summary/key facts.shtml

People need to move away from comparing an impoverished child in a less developed nation to those below the poverty line in the UK.

Why? I don't want to use the comparison to reduce assistance for those below the poverty line in the UK but to encourage greater help for those in genuine poverty not just below a theoretical 'poverty line'.

From your link

"The most commonly used threshold of low income is a household income that is 60% or less of the average (median) British household income in that year"

Statistically in any large random sample there will always be a proportion lower than 60% of the median figure.

 

[Mr Bridger]

How about the people who will never be able to afford to? Is it immoral for them to start their own families because they are that poor and will have to rely on help from the state?

Of course not, but the problem isn't poor people having families - the problem is that the current political and economic system means that millions people are that poor in the first place.

Every working man should be able to afford his own home and a family, money should not be an obstacle for ANY working person in regards to these things. The reason it is, is purely because of an excessive and irrational wealth divide between rich and poor. The working classes are essentially modern day slaves.

Is that every "working" man or just every man?

 

[Creaky]

How about the people who will never be able to afford to? Is it immoral for them to start their own families because they are that poor and will have to rely on help from the state?

Of course not, but the problem isn't poor people having families - the problem is that the current political and economic system means that millions people are that poor in the first place.

Every working man should be able to afford his own home and a family, money should not be an obstacle for ANY working person in regards to these things. The reason it is, is purely because of an excessive and irrational wealth divide between rich and poor. The working classes are essentially modern day slaves.

Immoral? No

Irresponsible? - Yes

 

[mikeyjh]

If you cannot afford to start a family, then maybe wait a while until you can afford to , instead of thinking the state should pay for it.

So only those who can afford it should have a family? The poor shall not breed? Now where did I here that before......

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Just for my information, what's the percentage of home ownership in Germany, compared to the UK?

Is it ok to buy the council house you have been living in for years? You family home like.....

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/mar/19/brits-buy-germans-rent