Rich and poor divide widens

Britain is an unequal country as the gap between the poor and the rich widens.
according to the National Equality Panel.

The inequality of social class – family background and place of birth -  widens the gap between rich and poor people. These work alongside other contributing factors such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and if you have a disability.

Those from all ethnic minorities are less likely to be in work than their white counterparts, according to the report released today.

On average, the top tenth of all households has over £850,000 in personal savings compared to the lower tenth having less than £9,000. The report reveals how women have more qualifications up to the age of 40, but they still earn 21% less per hour compared to men.

Scale

The sheer scale of differences in wealth may imply that it is impossible to create a cohesive society, Equalities Minister Harriet Harman said on the report's launch.

Ms Harman claimed that government policy intervention was needed in family life. “It has played a major role in halting the rise in inequality which was gaining ground in the 1980s. Public policy has narrowed gaps in educational attainment, narrowed the gap between men and women’s pay and tackled poverty in retirement.”

But Theresa May, shadow minister for women and equalities, said that Labour had failed to improve standards of child inequality after thirteen years in office.

The UK remains in the top quarter of industrial countries for income inequality, higher than Australia, France and Canada.