In a startling revelation, new figures show that the number of people living in poverty in the UK is significantly higher than previously reported. The findings, released by the non-partisan Social Metrics Commission (SMC), paint a grim picture of a nation grappling with a deepening crisis of deprivation and hardship.
More Than 1 in 3 Children Now Living in Poverty
Perhaps the most shocking statistic is that nearly one in three children in the UK – a staggering 4.6 million young people – are now growing up in poverty. This represents an additional 1.6 million children compared to the government’s official figures.
The SMC’s analysis uses a broader definition of poverty that takes into account not just income and housing costs, but also “inescapable costs” such as childcare and disability-related expenses. When these factors are considered, the true scale of the crisis becomes apparent.
Highest Poverty Levels Since Records Began
Overall, the SMC estimates that 16 million people in the UK are now living in poverty – nearly a quarter of the entire population. This is the highest level recorded since the commission began tracking poverty rates in 2000.
“These figures should shock everyone but surprise no one,” said Josh Halliday, North of England editor at The Guardian. “Nearly three years into the cost of living crisis, we know that young families and disabled people have been among those hit hardest by the biggest fall in UK living standards in half a century.”
Official Government Figures “Meaningless”
The SMC’s approach contrasts sharply with the government’s official poverty measure, which is based solely on average incomes and housing costs. Under this narrower definition, the government estimates that 12 million people are living in deprivation.
However, experts argue that the official figures are, at best, a vast underestimate and, at worst, effectively meaningless. By failing to account for the real costs that families face, the government’s numbers obscure the true extent of the crisis.
A More Comprehensive Measure of Poverty
The SMC’s “below average resources” metric is the result of eight years of collaboration between leading poverty charities and think tanks, including:
- The Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies
- The Sutton Trust
By considering liquid assets and unavoidable expenses alongside income and housing costs, this approach provides a more comprehensive and accurate picture of the financial pressures facing millions of households.
Conservative Government Adopts New Measure
To its credit, the outgoing Conservative government had announced plans in June to adopt a version of the SMC’s poverty measure. In January, it quietly published its first analysis using the new approach, which showed poverty rates jumping from 17% to 22% in 2021-22 compared to the old metric.
While commendable, this eleventh-hour acknowledgment of the scale of the crisis has come far too late for the millions who have suffered through years of austerity and the recent cost-of-living storm.
Urgent Action Needed from New Labour Government
As the new Labour government takes the reins, it faces an urgent imperative to tackle the poverty emergency head-on. With more than one in three children now growing up in hardship, the human and societal costs of inaction are simply too high.
Poverty campaigners are calling for immediate measures to boost incomes, reduce living costs, and invest in vital public services. This could include:
- Raising benefit levels in line with inflation
- Expanding access to affordable housing
- Providing universal free school meals
- Increasing funding for mental health and disability support
Ultimately, ending the scourge of poverty will require a sustained, cross-societal effort to address the root causes of disadvantage and create a fairer, more inclusive economy. But with millions of lives hanging in the balance, the time for action is now.
As the SMC’s sobering figures make clear, the UK’s poverty crisis is far deeper and more widespread than previously acknowledged. The question is, will the government finally rise to the challenge, or will it continue to let down the most vulnerable among us?
