Politicians Must Listen to People On Low Incomes Say Joseph Rowntree Association?

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Director of Communications Claire Ainsley has written a new blog Why politicians must listen to people on low incomes.

Claire highlights that people on low incomes are often marginalised and that they must have a stronger voice in democracy. Here are a few of the facts from her blog. 

Joseph Rowntree Foundation 

• people on lower incomes were significantly more likely to believe that Britain should leave the EU, and less likely to believe that Britain should remain in the EU but reduce its power
• 61% of people on low incomes don’t trust politicians to tell the truth compared to 50% of people on higher incomes. People on low incomes are significantly less likely to describe themselves as interested in politics, although the proportion is rising (from 20% in 2000 to 25% in 2015).
• health and disability topped the list of priorities amongst low- and high-income groups, followed by personal finances, crime, immigration, and housing
• 76% of those on low incomes felt they could make no difference to immigration. In contrast only 19% said they could make no difference to their personal finances, 36% housing and 16% education
• people on lower incomes are more likely to feel they have no control over their housing situation (36%) than people not on low incomes (15%).

It all sounds a bit hopeful to us here at the ABC!