Poverty: the rising tide
Is the government committed to tackling poverty in the UK? It’s an issue that has been the subject of much debate, with tough economic conditions, high unemployment and changes to the welfare state leaving many commentators fearing the worst for the poorer members of our society. .
But as this supplement highlights, the question should not be whether the government should tackle poverty, but how. Supported by the Webb Memorial Trust, New Statesman explores what has changed since 1909 when Beatrice and Sidney Webb conducted their seminal research into the causes of poverty and what, if anything, can we learn from the past? What role can the labour market play? And why are those most affected by poverty – children and young people – excluded from the debate?