[joeysteele]

I don't think there is poverty in the sense of other Countries where they have little or no running water, good sanitation etc, however there is poverty of a sort for those on very low incomes,also of course we do have homeless people too and for me that any one should find themselves in need in the UK is a disgrace to the Govts. of all parties over the decades and indeed the last century too.

However,there are people who don't help themselves and there are others who will take all they can never worrying at all about those who may need what they are getting.

So yes, I believe we have real poor in the UK and it needs to be sorted out, people desperately in need who especially in Winter cannot heat their homes need help to do so,I agree that for people on benefits,they need to be re-assessed not just necessarily to see if they can now or could work sometime in the future but to see what their needs are too.

Someone sick for instance,long term sick can have lots of help if they manage to get it,that is right if they are genuinely permanently or long term sick, but someone who has worked and had a wage, who then finds themself unemployed drops dramatically in income and is often left really struggling.That needs to be addressed too.

Despite its current problems the UK is still a fluid and rich Nation with assests and the ability to increase revenue so no one should be poor in this Country,(unless they won't help themselves).However the sad thing is in the World of finance and big business many poorer people do get lost or forgotten in the system and safeguards need to be put in place to ensure this does not remain the case.

As for charitable help, well, charity begins at home, and we should ensure we look after those in genuine need and help make sure worries to the necessities of life such as food,water, clothing, a home and energy are erased.

Of course there are people who will just sit back and wait for any handout whether it's needed or not and it is wrong for that to be allowed to continue but there are people now in the UK who are not in poverty as such but who are really struggling to survive and that should not be happening.