Quote Originally Posted by Tuerto View Post
I work in Ely A lot. Plenty of the properties i visit don't put their heating on in winter, don't have carpets. They're poor, the words '**** All' spring to mind. The kids Bedrooms are sparse and then there's all the other shit that goes with poverty, like social problems, lack of choice, no control, services that have been decimated due to cuts. All in all it's a horrible thing to witness. It's getting worse.
The definition reads "Households are considered to be below the UK poverty line if their income is below 60% of the median household income after housing costs for that year."

There is no doubt that there is relative poverty in the UK...BUT for many it is also a lifestyle choice of priorities.
How many seemingly poverty stricken families have mobile phones.....Netflix....SKY Sports....smoke etc.?

I am fortunate that I COULD go out drinking if I wished, but it's not the norm here in France......I prefer to enjoy a few glass es of supermarket wine at he weekends. Besides which I am too stinky to pay €6-8 for 50cl lager....!

Like others, having travelled there is REAL poverty in many 'third world ' countries.