GMB Magazine GMB25 Fusion Summer 2016 | Page 26

EQUALITIES

UPDATE

r acceptance

GMB fights fo

Y
T
R
E
POV ting
it’s get nder
worse u s
the Torie

The government is treating the poor with contempt,
says GMB regional equalities officer Lisa Ryan

26 FUSION – GMB North West and Irish

GMB25.Fusion_26_27.indd 26

09/06/2016 16:17

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The number of rough sleepers
This inequality follows poorer
he UK has the fifth largest
in the UK has more than doubled
children as they grow up,
economy in the world, yet
since 2010 as more and more
and they are more likely
according to recent statistics one
families break up due to
to go into either low-paid
in five of the population struggles
financial pressures. It is clear
or physically demanding
to meet their daily essential living needs.
that the pain of George
jobs. Low-cost, unsuitable
Parents of young children have to skip
Osborne’s repeated cuts is
housing simply continues
meals in order to feed and clothe their
now being felt by those that can
this cycle for their own
children, and elderly people are making the
least afford them.
children… and so on.
choice between heating their homes and
LISA RYAN
The Tories keep telling us that
Austerity measures put in place
eating each winter day.
unemployment is going down and omit
to compensate for the financial crisis caused
According to the Poverty and Social
mentioning that this is not due to
by the disgraceful way the banks behaved
Exclusion research project, the number of
government investment, but to the increase
are not felt by those who got us into this
people living in poverty has doubled since
in abhorrent zero hours contracts.
mess in the first place. Still, the Tory
1983. It is estimated there are over 3.5 million
Employees on these contracts have no
government pushes
children living in poverty in the UK.
financial stability; no guaranteed hours; no
ahead relentlessly
Children from
prospect of getting a mortgage. So how can
with cut after cut
poor families
we rebalance this?
– cutting our NHS
statistically
The obvious answer is that we need to
spending and
suffer more
vote. We need to encourage our friends,
cutting local
chronic illnesses
families and neighbours to vote against
government
than children
these cruel cuts.
spending, which
from more
When another local service is threatened
impacts on the
affluent families,
or lost, make some noise and don’t sit
cleanliness of
and do less well in
quietly by. Stand up and raise awareness.
our streets,
school. Later on,
Contact your local MP and ask them what
our libraries,
they are less likely
HARDEST HIT
they are going to do for the vulnerable in
our leisure
to pass exams
Government cuts affect
your community. Together, we
activities and
and go on to
the most vulnerable.
can make a difference!
on our health.
university.