Poverty & Bicycles
Walthamstow, London
Joined March 2009
- Tweets5.2K
- Following2.1K
- Followers1.6K
- Likes7.9K
Pinned Tweet
There is a danger in framing policy around 'hard-working people'.
Because by elimination, even if you don't say it out loud, you've created a binary suggesting there are people who are not.
Not everyone can work all the time, even if they want to. They deserve protection too.
Garry Lemon retweeted
"But education/work is the real route out of poverty..."
You know what makes it easier to do well at school or find a job? Not being hungry and cold!
Garry Lemon retweeted
Today's #KingsSpeech has lots of ambition but there is a critical missing piece... 🧩
Reforming social security so we all have a safety net to rely upon. (1/4)
Garry Lemon retweeted
❌ We NEVER want to see a sign like this ever again. ❌
The next government has the power to make that happen.
They can end the need for food banks.
ALT A sign with two arrows on. One arrow points left and is labelled 'food bank'. The second arrow points right and is labelled 'election'.
Garry Lemon retweeted
🚨journalists and commentators🚨
Repeat:
PIP is NOT an unemployment benefit
Disabled people IN work can claim PIP.
It is there to reflect the inequality disabled face in society
ALT Image of Bart Simpson in front of a chalkboard on which is written “PIP is not an unemployment benefit” multiple times
Garry Lemon retweeted
Conservative manifesto out. Overall thoughts:
- Disappointing lack of policies offering tangible support for people facing hardship.
- Record numbers now having to turn to food banks. Social security cuts risk further endangering people’s ability to afford essentials. 1/3
Garry Lemon retweeted
Context ahead of this week’s debate over disability benefits:🧵
- Already, 7/10 people referred to @TrussellTrust food banks are disabled.
- All independent assessments show UK sicker than it used to be.
- Increased poverty a big driver.
- Waits for treatment much higher.
1/5
Garry Lemon retweeted
Universal Credit is inadequate to cover people's essential costs to begin with, but half of those on UC also have money deducted to recover debts - £63 a month on average
New @NEF analysis in @guardian on the impossible position people are being left in theguardian.com/society/arti…
Our calls for the next government:
🚨 🧵 The General Election has been called.
Last week, we announced over 3.1 MILLION emergency food parcels were provided by food banks in our network in the past year.
All political parties must now commit to building a future where no one needs a food bank to survive.⤵️
ALT Green graphic with copy on it that reads: All political parties must commit to ending the need for food banks.
Garry Lemon retweeted
The Ugly: Little to stop expected fall in living standards for those on lowest incomes.
- Big permanent NI cut for those on middle & high incomes.
- Small, short-term sticking plasters for those really suffering.
Little to reduce v high numbers forced to turn to food banks. 3/3
Garry Lemon retweeted
Now the Government is claiming it is the 'duty' of Disabled people to work from home... maybe the government should 'do it's duty' of properly supporting Disabled people who are unable to work! We should not have to earn our humanity!
Disabled people must work from home to do ‘their duty’, says UK minister dlvr.it/Sz6Kcc
It's no coincidence @TrussellTrust food banks are running out of food & volunteers are exhausted:
Garry Lemon retweeted
Yesterday we published @TrussellTrust mid year stats. Grim reading. Here’s the lowlights: 🧵
- 1.5 million parcels provided between April & September.
- Record high, 16% rise on last year (which was also a record high & big rise from previous year.
- 116% rise since 2018
1/5
Garry Lemon retweeted
Sleeping on the streets is NOT a lifestyle choice. We don’t have nearly enough affordable homes, rents are soaring and this is leaving people destitute and forced to sleep rough.
This is a consequence of poverty. And poverty in this country has been exacerbated by policy choices
Garry Lemon retweeted
Food banks mentioned in Keir Starmer’s speech today, as well as in Liz Kendall’s & elsewhere at Labour conference. In 1997, rough sleeping was the symbol of what an incoming government needed to fix. Feels like food banks are becoming the symbol of what now needs to change.
Garry Lemon retweeted
.@RishiSunak, did you see our billboard on your way to the Conservative Party Conference?
You said everyone should be able to afford essentials. We agree. Yet millions of people are turning to food banks because Universal Credit is falling short.
It’s time to act. #CPC23
ALT A photo of a digital billboard on a building above a busy street in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. The billboard is bright green with a photo of Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on it. It also has a quote from Rishi Sunak, which reads ‘Everyone should be able to afford the essentials’. Underneath the quote is the text, ‘We agree. But Universal Credit is falling short’.
ALT A photo of the same digital billboard on a building above a busy street in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester. The billboard is bright green with a photo of Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, on it. It now shows the text, ‘Rishi, it’s time to guarantee our essentials’.
Garry Lemon retweeted
Deeply disturbing comments from Chancellor re cuts to social security. Universal Credit already too low to cover essentials, leaving people facing hunger & debt, damaging health & prospects. Tune into @LBC to hear me chat with @_NatashaDevon about how catastrophic this would be.
My kids' school!
Very grateful for all the excellent work @Hillyfield_E17 has done making it safer & easier for us to walk and ride to school:
