Ensure everyone has enough income to live in dignity, whether in or out of work.

Taxpayers Against Poverty welcome the new timely and exciting campaign from our friends at New Economics Foundation – NEF.

“NEF rightly reports that the UK is one of the richest countries in the world. Everybody who lives here should have access to an income which meets every day needs without forcing them to go into debt – like putting food on the table or dealing with a surprise boiler repair. A living income, alongside strong public services, will ensure everyone has enough for a decent quality of life.

In the current Covid emergency, we propose a minimum income guarantee of £227 a week to ensure that everyone has enough to live in dignity during the pandemic. In the long run, achieving a living income requires universal credit and social security reform. The exact package will vary from person to person as we all have different needs, like childcare or help with housing costs. But the aim is the same: to ensure everyone has enough to live, and not just survive.”

More at https://neweconomics.org/campaigns/living-income

TAP has long campaigned for the introduction of a national minimum income standard (MIS). Our founder, Rev Paul Nicolson’s was a passionate advocate for MIS and it was his advocacy of it that contributed to the concept and campaign for a Real Living Wage.

The NEF campaign comes at a time when Covid-19 has exposed and amplified poverty including child poverty and ‘in work’ poverty in this country. It comes at a tie when politicians are talking about “building back better” and “levelling up”.

TAP believes that there can be no “building back better” let alone “levelling up” without a serious government commitment and action to address poverty and the causes of poverty. MIS could play a very significant role so let’s all get behind the NEF Living Income campaign.