CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond has been accused of “living in a different world” after he refused to recognise that millions of Britain’s people are mired in poverty.
Mr Hammond rejected the conclusion of a report by Philip Alston, the United Nations rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, that the poor in this country number 14 million.
The report also found that 1.5 million are “destitute” and accused the government of pursuing a “punitive, mean-spirited and often callous” agenda.
If the government really wanted to address public finances, improve living standards and begin economic recovery, it would increase its borrowing for investment, argues MICHAEL BURKE
Here are the voices of DANIEL KEBEDE, FRAN HEATHCOTE, HOLLY TURNER and LEANNE MOHAMAD explaining why they will be taking part in the People’s Assembly No More Austerity demo next weekend
A new report by Amnesty International pulls no punches in highlighting the Labour government’s human rights violations of those on benefits, says Dr DYLAN MURPHY



