Hitting where it hurts most - the Church should be speaking out for the poorest of the poor

Where is the moral outrage as the politicians plan to save money by cutting benefits for those who are already at the bottom of the heap?  Niall Cooper despairs of 'compassionate Britain' and wonders where the voice of the Church is?

Is Britain a compassionate society? Sadly not on the evidence of some recent political discussion, as the two main political parties compete to cut the incomes of some of the poorest. It is time for the Churches to speak out: Enough is enough!

In a time of economic crisis and ballooning budget deficits, who should bear the brunt of public spending cuts? Those who already have the least and struggle to make ends meet, or those who have done well from the past decade of economic growth? If we were truly a compassionate society, it would surely be the wealthy who would be expected to tighten their belts, and the poorest who would be protected from greater hardship. Sadly, it appears as if politicians in both main parties have mislaid their moral compasses, by choosing to cut the incomes of two of the poorest and most vulnerable groups in society.

On November 4th 2009, the Conservatives opened their annual conference with a new flagship ‘back to work’ policy. Whilst the announcement included some welcome measures to offer extra apprenticeships and training, this will be funded by cutting the incomes of half a million of the poorest people in the country by 30 percent. All of the 2.5 million people currently on Incapacity Benefit will be assessed over the next 3 years – and anyone judged capable of work will have their benefits cut by £25 per week. Encouraging people to take work is a fine and laudable goal. But in the midst of a recession, with jobs scarce, where is the sense in cutting the incomes of those who are least likely to be able to find work? It is simply a recipe for making things even harder during a time of economic hardship.

Not to be outdone, the following day, the Government slipped out its own latest policy initiative – involving cutting the benefits for another group who are already expected to live on less than any other group in society. Up until then, people fleeing persecution to the UK (known to many by the increasingly pejorative label of asylum seekers) aged over 25 were entitled to the princely sum of £42.16 per week. This has now been cut to just £35.13 a week – or £5 per day. This is now barely half the amount that a UK citizen claiming Jobseekers Allowance receives – in spite of the fact that Jobseekers allowance is ‘the minimum required to live on’ according to the Department for Work and Pensions.

Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council commented that: "These are hard times for everybody, but we must remember that many of these people have experienced torture, persecution, war and human rights abuses and most live in already impoverished circumstances.''

Why are our politicians outcompeting each other in taking money out of the pockets of the poorest in society? Where is the public outrage? Just imagine if any politician stood up to propose a policy which involved cutting the incomes of middle Englanders by 30%. Just imagine the headlines and frontpages of every daily newspaper and the outcry that would ensue…

Yet cutting the incomes of the poorest raises barely a whimper…. The harsh fact is that too many have been taken in by the myths that the poor are somehow to blame for their own plight; people on Incapacity Benefit are workshy, spongers who need a good kick up the backside; people seeking asylum are ‘bogus’ and should all just go home.. Of course , ‘we’ don’t subscribe to such views – but how far are we prepared to challenge them?

And where are the Churches in all of this? Where is our own sense of moral outrage? Where are the voices of our Bishops and church leaders condemning the attacks on the poorest and most vulnerable? Or are we complacent and complicit, happy simply that the axe has not fallen on us?

Would the Old Testament prophets have remained silent as the rich and powerful take from the poor and the vulnerable even the little that they have?

Defend the helpless and oppressed; don't harm strangers, widows, orphans, or other innocent people.
Jeremiah

"Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy… Do not oppress the poor, whether they be slaves, neighbors, or strangers."
Deuteronomy

”He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker”
Proverbs

As the General Election looms ever closer, and talk of spending cuts become ever greater, let us not be found wanting. Let us stand up and speak truth to power clearly and loudly – enough is enough. Do not oppress the poor, and do not make their plight harder. In times of economic hardship, it is our common duty to protect the poorest and most vulnerable from even greater hardship. It is time for us to speak out.

Niall Cooper is National Coordinator of Church Action on Poverty

E: niallc@church-poverty.org.uk

For more information on Church Action on Poverty visit www.church-poverty.org.uk