Millionaires’ reign: UK’s rulers ‘out of touch’ with common folk
Britain’s new political elite is an
assortment of multi-millionaires
who studied at
exclusive universities.
But down on the streets
there is a growing sentiment
that those running
the country
are detached from
those they lead.
The latest example of how a few careless words by a millionaire
in power triggers anger from the people affected by his governmental
decisions comes from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
On Monday, he claimed in a live radio talk show that if he
had to he could live on 53 pounds (US$80) a week.
in power triggers anger from the people affected by his governmental
decisions comes from Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
On Monday, he claimed in a live radio talk show that if he
had to he could live on 53 pounds (US$80) a week.
That’s the sum that one of the callers said is left to
survive on after the government’s latest housing
welfare cuts. Starting this week, some 2.4 million
households are facing a rise in taxes, averaging 138 pounds ($210) per year.
survive on after the government’s latest housing
welfare cuts. Starting this week, some 2.4 million
households are facing a rise in taxes, averaging 138 pounds ($210) per year.
Hours later an astonishing 97,000 people signed an
online petition on the change.org website calling on
Duncan Smith to prove his words. The text challenged
him to “live on this budget for at least one year”instead
of spending his salary, which is almost 50 times higher.
online petition on the change.org website calling on
Duncan Smith to prove his words. The text challenged
him to “live on this budget for at least one year”instead
of spending his salary, which is almost 50 times higher.
At a time when the UK is facing painful public cuts,
many feel the authorities are detached from those
suffering from the measures being taken, reports RT’s
Sara Firth from London.
many feel the authorities are detached from those
suffering from the measures being taken, reports RT’s
Sara Firth from London.
“They’ve got no idea what it’s like, they’re making all these attacks
and they’ve never been unemployed people living on 56 pounds a week,”
Helen, a protesting public worker, told RT. “
They’ve no idea what it’s like to be a hard-working person
wanting to do well when you’re having your pay cut, yours hours attacked.
They get tax cuts we get tax increases. It’s disgraceful.”
and they’ve never been unemployed people living on 56 pounds a week,”
Helen, a protesting public worker, told RT. “
They’ve no idea what it’s like to be a hard-working person
wanting to do well when you’re having your pay cut, yours hours attacked.
They get tax cuts we get tax increases. It’s disgraceful.”
While the ordinary citizens have to cope with less benefits and higher costs,
Britain’s 13,000 top earners are receiving a 100,000-pound tax cut, the Labour Party claims.
Britain’s 13,000 top earners are receiving a 100,000-pound tax cut, the Labour Party claims.
While Labour might be accused of scoring political points by waging class warfare,
they don’t escape harsher criticism. Ed Miliband
and his wealthy counterparts have been dubbed ‘champagne socialists’ by critics.
they don’t escape harsher criticism. Ed Miliband
and his wealthy counterparts have been dubbed ‘champagne socialists’ by critics.
With Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne
having just delivered his budget for 2013 amid a
coalition-tailored climate of austerity, the question stands:
can the political elite really understand what the cuts mean for ordinary voters?
having just delivered his budget for 2013 amid a
coalition-tailored climate of austerity, the question stands:
can the political elite really understand what the cuts mean for ordinary voters?
Conservatives are not looking far to explain
how it’s not their fault that the situation is gloomy.
how it’s not their fault that the situation is gloomy.
"You can always come up with things that have gone wrong.
With the bad economic situation that we inherited it was
almost inevitable that we were going to lose our AAA rating,"
Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told RT.
With the bad economic situation that we inherited it was
almost inevitable that we were going to lose our AAA rating,"
Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told RT.
UK unemployment is up, growth is down and ordinary British people feel unrepresented.
And the resurgence of the toffs to some is an indicator of a much greater malaise.
And the resurgence of the toffs to some is an indicator of a much greater malaise.
“There is a problem with the political class in general.
It is actually out of touch with the general population. T
hey don’t really understand how a lot of families are suffering
now with rising basic costs. And of course it’s very much this top-down elites’ policies
that is driving these costs up,” Richard Wellings from the Institute of Economic Affairs told RT.
It is actually out of touch with the general population. T
hey don’t really understand how a lot of families are suffering
now with rising basic costs. And of course it’s very much this top-down elites’ policies
that is driving these costs up,” Richard Wellings from the Institute of Economic Affairs told RT.
from Russia Today
