Report kicks off new calls for reversal of UK austerity policies

POLITICS: Special rapporteur says cuts violated UK’s human rights obligations

The UK Government must recognise the damage caused by austerity and change course on policies that are causing poverty and inequality to rise, the Scottish Government has said.

It follows the publication of a report by the UN’s special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, on poverty in the UK.

In his report, Mr Alston said the UK had violated its human rights obligations through sustained and widespread cuts to social support. He said austerity policies introduced in 2010 “continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences”.

Prof Alston, who visited cities and towns across the UK in November, also warned mitigation of austerity by the devolved administrations is “not sustainable”.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said the Scottish Government agreed with his recommendations. She said: “Today’s report from the UN is a devastating analysis of the UK Government’s austerity programme,”

“The Scottish Government agrees with the special rapporteur’s assessment that the UK Government must reverse the many policies it has pursued that are increasing poverty and inequality and imposing regressive measures like the benefits freeze and two-child cap.

“In Scotland alone, UK Government welfare cuts are expected to lead to a reduction in social security spending of £3.7 billion in 2020-21.”

Ms Campbell added the Scottish Government welcomed Prof Alston’s focus on problems caused by Universal Credit, as well as highlighting an in-work poverty rise.

Scottish Greens Parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone called for the UK’s reforms of welfare to end after the “damning” report.

Polly Tolley, of Citizens Advice Scotland, agreed with the report’s call for an end to a five-week wait for Universal Credit, adding people can get help at their Citizens Advice Bureau.

Ms Tolley said: “This is a timely and important report which reflects the reality of what we are seeing through our services across Scotland.

“The Citizens Advice network in Scotland helps hundreds of thousands of people each year and we have seen firsthand the impact of rising poverty in our communities, driven by a combination of changes to social security policy, low paid and insecure work as well as a rising cost of living.

“There is no single government policy that can solve poverty, we need to see a co-ordinated approach backed up by the right levels of investment.”

The Department for Work and Pensions branded the report “barely believable” and said it spends £95 billion a year on welfare and maintains a state pension system that supports people into retirement.

A DWP spokeswoman said: “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.

“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 full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our reforms are focused on supporting people into employment and we introduced the National Living Wage.”

We have seen first-hand the impact of rising poverty in our communities.

POLLY TOLLEY, OF CITIZENS ADVICE SCOTLAND

Picture: PA. Professor Philip Alston speaking with children during a visit to Scotland.