ONE THIRD OF GREAT BRITAIN'S CITIZENS ARE TOO POOR TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY

INDEPENDENT UK - ONE THIRD OF BRITONS CAN'T AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY

EXCERPT of article by Andrew Johnson.

"The report found that participation in society falls as income falls, as might be expected. But participation bottoms out for the 30 per cent of households with the lowest incomes, for whom additional income then makes no difference. In other words, there is a cut-off point for being a full member of society.

Below this “participation floor” incomes may vary wildly. But extra money is spent on replacing worn-out goods or upgrading services, rather than buying extra things.

“Those [within the 30 per cent] with higher incomes do not have measurably increased living standards, greater social participation or higher levels of trust,” the report says. “The 30 per cent of people with the lowest incomes are forced to choose between the basic necessities of modern life; they must decide which needs to neglect.”