Scucca

The Guardian reports...
The number of pensioners living below the poverty line in the UK has risen by 300,000, taking the figure to 2.5 million, official figures out today showed.

Why does the UK continue to stand out as the poor man of Europe?

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winston53660

Is the UK a part of EU yet?

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http://winstoncreative.com/

Scucca

Member of the EU, not a participant in the Euro

winston53660

I wasn't sure what the details were, thanxs. Would there be any advantage for pensioners if the UK were to take part in the Euro?

Slainte

Old people struggle with exchange rates.

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We all live under the same sky, but we don't all have the same horizon

Scucca

Not sure about that. I suppose it would largely depend, in the short run, on price effects. There is some confusion over them. As an example of the available analysis, see this paper

We've always lagged behind our European cousins with poverty. I'd tend to support the notion that this reflects an Anglo-Saxon effect, where higher poverty rates are tolerated within a neoliberal economic environment. Perhaps economic integration would reduce this effect

Scucca

The BBC reports

Average families have seen their disposable incomes drop by £8 a week in the past year, research suggests. The Centre for Economics and Business Research said families had seen their earnings rise by £23 a week, or 3.6%. But that was outstripped by taxes, which rose 6.5%, and higher bills for essential items such as food and fuel.

That aint going to help!

independent_thinker2002

Quit propping up that stupid monarchy.

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Scucca

Compared to a President, they're actually cheaper. Republican hatred should, however, focus on the support for class divides encouraged by royalty.

Of course if we republicans won, they'd up-sticks for the US!

independent_thinker2002

Quit encouraging inbreeding. It's not right!