UK Government responds to BASW anti-poverty campaign

BASW UK’s Chair Julia Ross and Chief Executive Dr Ruth Allen wrote to the UK Government in November 2022 highlighting our anti-poverty campaign which calls for the government to make policy interventions that would support those on the lowest incomes.

We took into account the voices of people using our services and we were concerned not to expect the government to make hugely expensive changes given the cost of living crisis. Our three asks were to uprate benefits in line with inflation, scrap the two child cap, and freeze evictions.

The Government has now responded listing the support available to people experiencing financial difficulty, including the announcement that benefits would rise in line with inflation. Due to one of our campaign asks being confirmed by the Government, we replaced it with an ask to extend to the debt breathing space to give people experiencing financial difficulty more time to seek help and get their finances under control.

On our campaign to freeze evictions, the Government said they do not believe a freeze on evictions is the best way to help people struggling with their living costs. In contrast to this, the Scottish Government introduced an eviction freeze which protects landlords, but also prevents tenants from being evicted for no fault of their own. This proves that an eviction ban can work, but the Government has no appetite to do it.

On our campaign priority of scrapping the two child limit on benefits, the Government responded that providing support for a maximum of two children was about fairness.

Speaking in response to the letter, BASW UK Chair Julia Ross said:

“The Government has provided a lengthy response to our campaign, which we read with interest. However,  we find it difficult to understand their position.

“The letter from the Minister says that limiting benefits to two children except in specific circumstances is about fairness – apparently arguing that people in work do not expect a pay rise if they have an extra child. However, there is nothing fair about legislating for families to struggle financially and there is nothing fair about inequality between children or having larger families. There is nothing fair about punishing families for circumstances that may be out of their control.

“Banning evictions to stop landlords from evicting tenants for no reason is a worthy policy move as we have seen amply demonstrated by the Scottish Government. The support for private renters is inadequate, and promises of future legislation does nothing to help renters today nor the unstable market.

“We welcomed the announcement that benefits will be uprated in line with inflation, but it is not enough. And we will keep listening and campaigning for policies that deliver positive changes to people’s lives.”

Read the UK Government's full response to BASW's campaign against poverty here.