A new report, Life in the UK, by the highly respected think tank, Carnegie UK, and which measures wellbeing in four areas – social, economic, environmental and democratic – delivers a damning judgement, with the UK scoring a meagre 61 out of 100.
Wellbeing is affected by low income
The report identifies income inequality as the single biggest driver of poor wellbeing because of its influence on issues such as housing tenure, household income and area deprivation.
People with an income under £26,000 a year, social housing tenants, people with a disability in the family, residents in the UK’s most deprived areas, 16–34-year-olds, Black, Asian and minority white ethnic groups, women and families with three or more children under 15 living at home, score the lowest.
The report voices concern that overall, 43% reported experiencing discrimination, while 29% said they felt unsafe walking alone in their neighbourhood.
“There is still a long way to go to make equality a reality,” it states.
Protection against poverty discrimination
The report welcomes the government’s intention to bring in a new law enshrining the right to equal pay for minority ethnic people and strengthen protection against discrimination and racial inequity.
It dismisses the argument that the rising living costs are a short-term problem, but rather “a long-term structural emergency influencing multiple aspects of people’s lives”.
“High living costs combined with limited access to local job opportunities and a lack of affordable housing are keeping people in poverty,” it states, and “the cost of poverty impacts across society, including on the economy through reduced employment and on public services.”
Environmental and democratic threats to wellbeing
The report notes the “environmental justice” of the “disproportionate exposure to pollutants and noise and inadequate access to green spaces” for those living in deprived areas, on lowest incomes and younger people is a threat to collective wellbeing and further entrenches inequality.
Carnegie reserve their harshest assessment for democratic wellbeing which scores only 40 out of a 100.
“It is not right that democracy is working better for people with a higher annual income and living in more affluent areas, while younger people, those living in social housing and disabled people have much less agency over the decisions that impact their lives.”
Confidence in the current system of government is at a record low, with 72% of people feeling they can’t influence decisions affecting them, while 53% have low levels of trust in the UK government.
“Improved citizen engagement, working transparently, actively communicating about decision-making, and investing in responsible, reliable and fair public services are all evidence-based actions that governments can take to improve public trust and confidence,” the report says.
A chance to rebuild trust
The Carnegie report concludes that the recent change of regime in the UK brings an opportunity, saying that “a new government and the marking of 25 years of devolution offer a moment in time for a bold agenda to re-engage people in our democracy and rebuild trust in those we elect to represent us”.
Carnegie urges the national, regional and local governments in the UK to focus their attention on the “people being left behind in the UK today”.
It strikes an optimistic note by stating that “a new UK government with a significant majority in Parliament and an ambitious policy agenda represents an opportunity to grapple with the multiple, complex and systemic challenges facing people in their day-to-day lives”.
