Mass unemployment threatens Britain
The country is ill-prepared
“I’VE HAD members of my association claiming universal credit and they’re shocked by how low it is,” says a Tory MP. It is unusual for Conservative stalwarts to see the benefits system at close quarters: almost three decades of mostly low unemployment have reserved it for the unfortunate few. But as the furlough scheme winds down and the deepest recession for a century hits employment, the system’s weaknesses will gain new political salience.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “It’s coming”
Britain August 22nd 2020
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