These statistics show a worrying increase in both poverty and inequality – Debbie Abrahams

Debbie
Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the Households Below Average Income statistics, said:  

“These
statistics show a worrying increase in both poverty and inequality. Four
million children and two million older people are now living below the
breadline. Those living with a disabled person are more likely than ever to be
struggling to make ends meet.

“This
is a direct result of this Government’s seven wasted years of austerity and
punitive social security cuts.

“The Tories’ shocking failure to tackle
the increasing costs of basic essentials, stagnating wages and their ruthless
slashing of social security is leaving working families worse off up to 2020.”

“Labour would reverse cuts to in-work
support, ban the exploitative zero hours contracts being used on hundreds of
thousands of workers, and guarantee a real Living Wage.”