The Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s UK Poverty 2019-20 report has highlighted the high rates of poverty in the capital.
Commenting on the research, Cllr Muhammed Butt, London Councils’ Executive Member for Welfare, Empowerment and Inclusion, said: “There are massive inequalities across the UK, with the worst here in London. This crucial report lays bare the serious challenge of tackling deprivation in the capital.
“In contrast to the simplistic mythmaking about London, the streets here aren’t paved with gold. London has among the highest poverty rates in the UK, with the most severe pensioner and in-work poverty and two-thirds of the national homelessness total.
“The government is making positive noises about levelling up the country but needs to boost support for deprived communities everywhere – including the capital.
“Without question, public services and poverty reduction programmes across the whole country urgently need adequate funding. Councils should be given strengthened powers and resources so that we can improve local support and make much faster progress in bringing poverty rates down.”
