21st century Poor Law

Remember how the Tories and their allies in the media thought they were on to a winner when Labour`s nationalisation and tax policies led them to claim gleefully that Corbyn was taking the country back to the 1970s? The popularity of the policies clearly took them by surprise, but the results of their disingenuity are now coming home to roost. With disgraceful poverty figures, real wages declining, and the government`s refusal to "remedy the debt trap of Universal Credit" making matters worse, it is quite obvious where May`s administration is taking the country, and it`s certainly not forward! In fact, there are valid comparisons with Britain around 180 years ago!

  The Tories have been treating the poor as criminals since 2010, and the similarities between now and the way the less fortunate were treated as far back as the 19th century are obvious. After the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the workhouse test insisted those wanting help could only find it with "indoor relief", in the workhouses, where conditions were to be worse than those endured by the lowest paid workers. Now we have a disgraceful 21st century "welfare test", with  a similar principle of less eligibility; delayed and reduced payments of universal credit aiming to serve the same purpose as a workhouse, starving  people into accepting low paid work, paid by exploitative employers. 

    Pressure on the government to pause universal credit`s introduction must be maintained, despite the distractions caused by Brexit problems, tax avoidance and sexual misconduct. The country cannot wait for another 4+ years  until a general election is called. In fact, Labour must take every opportunity to force votes in parliament, and demand an election as soon as the government is defeated; there is far too much blood on this government`s hands already!