Four out of ten council homes sold under the right-to-buy policy are now owned by private landlords. The failure to replace these homes is a key reason for the current lack of affordable housing. Due to budget cuts from central government, councils are working in partnership with property developers to ‘regenerate’ council estates and meet demand for social housing in inner city areas. But the demolition of homes, replaced with housing that is unaffordable to the original residents, has led critics to describe the process as ‘social cleansing’. Social Housing, Social Cleansing ***** Channel 5 2018
20 years later, residents of the Aylesbury [estate, Southwark] might wonder what happened to New Labour’s bold vision of the future. ibid.
The Heygate estate: forecasted profit from sales to Lendlease: £194m; forecaster profit from sales for Southwark Council £0. ibid.
‘I believe it was a deliberate strategy by the local authority.’ ibid. Steve Turner, assistant general secretary Unite, re Heygate
In 2003 Glasgow City Council transferred its entire housing stock to the Glasgow Housing Association, a new private company. ibid.
With only 4% voting in favour of demolition, Lambeth opted to proceed with plans to demolish all 306 houses on the estate. ibid.
In 2017 there were more than 19,000 people on the waiting list for social housing in Tower Hamlets, 3,018 of whom had been on the list for ten years or longer. ibid.
In 2016 the number of affordable homes built in Britain fell to a 24-year low. ibid.
Good morning, Mr Blake, my name’s Amanda. I’ve got a couple of questions here for you today to establish your eligibility for employment support allowance. It won’t take up much of your time. I, Daniel Blake ***** 2016 starring Davd Johns & Hayley Squires & Dylan McKiernan & Briana Shann & Kate Rutter & Kema Sikazwe & Steven Richens & Gavin Webster et al, director Ken Loach, opening commentary
We’re digital by default. ibid. benefits bloke
What’s wrong with you people? ibid. Daniel
I spoke to the landlord about it. Because I complained he kicked me out. ibid. Katie
Dan, they will fuck you around. I’m warning you. Make you as miserable. No accident. That’s the plan. I know dozens who have given up. ibid. friend
When you lose your self-respect you’re done for. ibid. Daniel
The State drove him to an early grave. ibid. Katie
Is the government’s new benefits system bringing hardship? Life for those who are having to live on universal credit. The food banks that are getting busier than ever. Tonight: Life on Benefits: Universal Credit? ITV 2019
Repeated calls for the roll-out to be halted amid serious concerns that this new benefits system is making some people poorer. ibid.
For generations governments have sought to simplify the benefits system. The latest attempt, universal credit – merging six benefits into one – was supposed make life better for claimants, many of them vulnerable, the least able to manage. Panorama: Universal Credit: One Year On, BBC 2019
Some seven million households are expected to be claiming. ibid.
Universal credit is the biggest overhaul of the welfare state in a generation. It’s designed to simplify the benefits system and encourage the unemployed into work. But it’s controversial. Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State I, BBC 2020
In the UK, 7 million working-age people receive some kind of state benefit. Since the 1960s benefits have grown into a complex system of claims. ibid.
‘All the time we’re here [welfare office] we’re under the threat of sanctions.’ ibid. claimant
We follow the people designing the new system, the claimants living on it, and the staff in the Job Centres keeping everything on track … Toxteth Job Centre Liverpool: more than 45,000 people on Universal Credit. Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State II
‘How long do I need to be doing this job-search thing? It’s stressful.’ ibid. middle-aged lady to case manager
In Toxteth Gemma manages a team of 41 life coaches who each have between 150-200 claimants on their caseload. ibid.
From the end of 2018 anybody whose circumstances have changed need to move from the old system on to Universal Credit. For many there can be a gap of up to five weeks between applying and their first payment. Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State III
For young people entering work for the first time low wages and zero-hours contracts have become the standard. ibid.
When Universal Credit was announced in 2011 it was widely supported by all main political parties. Since it began rolling out, the new benefit has been heavily criticised. ibid.
10,600 people died within 6 weeks of being declared ‘fit to work’ by the DWP over a 10-month period. Bevan Boy tweet 10 September 2022