Britain’s welfare state offers little protection for workers
Pandemic-era measures changed that, but only temporarily
“PICTURE THIS,” said Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, on October 4th, before describing a young family keen to provide the best for their children. “Is the answer to their hopes and dreams just to increase their benefits?” The response “no” was implied in his speech and demonstrated by his government’s actions, as just two days later it cut universal credit, a benefit for low-income households, by around £20 ($27) a week.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Help wanted”
Britain October 9th 2021
- Wages are rising in Britain, but so are prices and taxes
- The government wants to boost British startups through immigration
- What Sarah Everard’s murder means for the Metropolitan Police
- Britain’s welfare state offers little protection for workers
- The lamps are going out all over Britain
- Britain’s trees are being felled by diseases
- The Tories are deadly serious about levelling up
From the October 9th 2021 edition
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Explore the editionMore from Britain
London’s pie-and-mash shops are disappearing
Blame higher rents and changing tastes
Britain’s family courts are opening up to reporters
Transparency and privacy can work together
Has the Royal Navy become too timid?
A new paper examines how its culture has changed
A plan to reorganise local government in England runs into opposition
Turkeys vote against Christmas
David Lammy’s plan to shake up Britain’s Foreign Office
Diplomats will be tasked with growing the economy and cutting migration