The Social Metrics Commission has today launched its annual report, Measuring Poverty 2020.
The report highlights that although the poverty rate in the UK has remained largely unchanged over the last 20 years, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of people living in deep poverty – that is, more than 50% below the poverty line. The report also warns that it is those in deep poverty who are being most significantly impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
Oliver Hilbery, Director of the MEAM coalition and Commissioner on the Social Metrics Commission said:
“We welcome this latest report from the Social Metrics Commission, which shines a light on the deep poverty being faced by so many people in the UK today.
“The number of people in deep poverty has risen by 1.7 million over the last two decades, while the overall rate of poverty, in contrast, has changed relatively little over the same period.
“We know that the prevalence and experience of multiple disadvantage is closely correlated to poverty and deprivation. As the government and local areas plan for the next stage of the response to the coronavirus crisis we must ensure that polices to reduce poverty are at the heart of local and national responses.
“Measuring progress will require the adoption of a clear and consistent measure of poverty, which the Commission’s metric can provide.”