Three in four people slash household spending to beat cost of living crisis – new pol

CSJ launches new probe into social and economic breakdown

Pandemic and cost of living crisis exact severe toll on families

Cross-party Commission charged with finding measures to repair fraying social fabric

Commission chairman Martin Ivens says: “We are living in the middle of a national catastrophe. Redress is overdue”

The scale of public dismay at the state of Britain has been laid bare by a new poll for a major think-tank.

It suggests deep scars to the country’s social fabric have been inflicted by the lockdowns of the pandemic which also poured petrol on issues that have been worsening for some time.

Over two thirds (69 per cent) believe they are living in a divided nation and nearly three quarters (72 per cent) say they have cut back on spending in a bid to balance the household budget.

Half the public (49 per cent) add that they or their families have missed on key opportunities such as travel or education since Covid struck in early 2020.

People living in the East, South East and South West of England were the most pessimistic about the state of the country – with almost three quarters (74 per cent) – saying that Britain is a divided nation.

Under 35s are the most disaffected by the current situation. 82 per cent of 18-34 year olds have had to drastically cut spending – 10 per cent more than the national average. 67 per cent of 18-34 year olds also say they have missed out on key opportunities as a result of the pandemic. By comparison, less than half of those in other age groups (49 per cent of 35-54 year olds and 37 per cent of 55+ year olds) believe they have missed out due to Covid-19.

The findings come from an Opinium survey for the Centre for Social Justice, which has launched a high-powered cross-party commission of inquiry into the social and economic challenges facing the country.

The Social Justice Commission will be chaired by former Sunday Times editor Martin Ivens and includes former Bank of England Governor Lord King, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, and former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron.

Miriam Cates MP, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, CEO and entrepreneur Liz Earle, commentator and broadcaster Mercy Muroki and current and former charity CEOs Laurance Hancock and Josh Babarinde also join as Commissioners.

The Social Justice Commission comes nearly 20 years after the Centre for Social Justice’s seminal Breakdown and Breakthrough Britain reports, which resulted in the biggest shake-up of the welfare system since its inception and the introduction of universal credit.

The Social Justice Commission will travel the country visiting small grassroots charities that work in the most disadvantaged communities, including through a series of Big Listens charities in Leeds, Loughborough, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester and Newcastle. The Social Justice Commission will also conduct a landmark poll, surveying those who live in the most disadvantaged communities, in addition to a series of focus groups with those of lived experience.

The Commission will report its full findings in early 2024.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Commission Chairman Mr Ivens highlights the toll the pandemic disproportionately had on the young and the poor – and its dire cost to the UK economy, adding nearly £16 billion a year to state borrowing.

“During the pandemic, poor pupils had little or no access to remote learning or Zoom lessons. Unless we address their problems, this  cohort’s lives will be permanently blighted.

“Many adult lives have been damaged too. “Self-reported Covid” afflicts two million people, according to the Government’s own figures. Last year 2.5 million people were suffering from long-term sickness, while the rate of those awarded disability benefits doubled.

“The Social Justice Commission has an urgent agenda. Our mission is to prevent social breakdown now so that we can save billions in the future. The price in human misery is too great to ignore.”

Commissioner, Lord Mervyn King said:  “Sluggish growth of productivity and real incomes go hand in hand, and they reflect deep economic and social factors. I welcome, therefore, the Social Justice Commission’s wide remit which will examine the underlying issues holding this country back which include family breakdown and the long tail of Covid-19. The bill for welfare and health will continue to rise unless we tackle those root causes head on. This is a time for radical thinking informed by detailed analysis.”