The report of the U.N. rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights has come at a good time for the UK government. We are are all distracted by the will she/won't she, will they/won't they of the Brexit draft agreement fallout.
If we weren't distracted, we would be appalled at his findings. After all, we have just given tens of millions of pounds to the BBC Children in Need telethon. We are not an uncaring society.
However, it seems we have an uncaring government who have sacrificed the wellbeing of a whole swathe of society on the altar of political dogma. We have a system that is "punitive, mean-spirited and often callous". Child poverty is at a level that is "not just a disgrace but a social calamity and an economic disaster". One phrase is particularly damning: "poverty is a political choice". Just to be clear, a political choice of government not of those who are poor.
We shouldn't be surprised as we have heard all this before (and had it ignored) from charities, foundations and churches. What on earth has made us believe that the poor must suffer for the economic good of the country? The rich and powerful remain untouched and, indeed, reap the benefits. Just to prove that we humans learn nothing, the Hebrew prophet, Amos, was saying the same thing a few thousand years ago.
Children in Need drew our attention to lots of creative projects staffed by skilled and caring people that really make a difference. Some of those were of a kind that would have been supported by local government before their budgets were cut the bone. Things do still happen because people want a good society. Voluntary effort, though, cannot on its own compensate for a callous regime.
Naturally, the government has rejected the report. Well, they would, wouldn't they.
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