Budget Hits Poorest Hardest, says IFS
The Coalition Government’s first Budget will hit poor families – including disabled people – hardest, according to a leading economic think tank.Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg defended the Budget, insisting the IFS report was “by definition partial” and failed to consider the policies to get more people off benefits and into work.
Guy Parckar, Leonard Cheshire Disability Acting Director of Policy and Campaigns, said: “The analysis suggesting that the measures in the June Budget will hit poorest families the hardest will be of great concern to many disabled people.
“Disabled people are already twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in poverty; they are far less likely than non-disabled people to be in work, or to have any savings,” he added. “The extent of disability poverty in the UK should be considered a national scandal and policy decisions must not be made that will make the situation even worse.
“The Government should keep all its policies under review in this context – if financial measures are to be fair and progressive, then tackling disability poverty must be at their heart,” he said.