Centre for Social Justice response to the Queen’s Speech

Joe Shalam, Policy Director at the Centre for Social Justice, said: 

“As we learn more each day about the hidden damage of the pandemic – and in the midst of the worst cost of living crisis since the 1970s – the social injustices facing our nation require urgent attention. Over 100,000 children are severely absent from school. With household budgets squeezed, up to a million people are resorting to dangerous illegal lenders. Seven years on from the world-leading Modern Slavery Act, too many remain at the mercy of exploitative criminals who saw lockdown as an opportunity to turn people into profit.

“The Centre for Social Justice welcomes commitments in today’s Queen’s Speech putting our recommendations into law: to direct more public procurement towards local businesses and charities; to renew the fight against economic crime and modern slavery; and to ensure more young people on the margin of the education system reach their potential. These long-term reforms will make a real difference to the lives of those who were struggling well prior to the turbulence of the last two years.

“But the fact remains: this cost of living crisis is just getting started. And those with the least to begin with will be the hardest hit. Government must now take the earliest opportunity to harness the flexibility within Universal Credit to get support directly to those worst hit by the spike in energy prices, while also helping claimants into work.”