London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

80 percent of low-income UK families worse off amid lockdown-induced economic nosedive

80 percent of low-income UK families worse off amid lockdown-induced economic nosedive

The economic paralysis caused by the UK’s coronavirus lockdown has squeezed hard-up households, a new survey found, with most respondents saying that it’s become more difficult to put food on the table.
Researchers from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Church of England surveyed 285 low-income families and found that eight in ten had taken a sizable financial hit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A staggering 83 percent of respondents said buying food had become more difficult, while close to half reported that their ability to pay for housing has been negatively affected. Finding cash to cover utilities was an issue for 76 percent, while more than half felt a larger financial burden from child-related expenses. Nearly six in ten households reported that they had issues covering the costs for three or more of these basic essentials, the survey found.

One respondent explained in an interview that they had lost their job at the start of March, but have been unable to find new work as their son’s nursery had closed as part of the government’s anti-coronavirus measures.

“I am in more debt and struggling to pay bills and feed my son and myself,” the respondent said.

Anxiety, stress, and problems in the home were also commonly-reported occurrences. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they had suffered from relationship problems as Britons struggled to cope with the pandemic and the government’s heavy-handed restrictions.

The findings paint a troubling picture of the social and economic woes facing the UK as it attempts to bounce back from the health crisis. In August, the UK officially entered recession after its GDP plummeted by 20 percent. The nation also posted the worst unemployment figures since the 2009 economic crisis.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) cited the UK’s protracted lockdown measures, which shuttered all ‘non-essential’ businesses, as a major factor behind the severe economic slump.

Mark Woolhouse, part of the team of scientists and medical professionals who advised Downing Street on its coronavirus response, recently argued that the lockdown should have been a temporary measure and should not be implemented again.

“I believe history will say trying to control Covid-19 through lockdown was a monumental mistake on a global scale, the cure was worse than the disease,” he said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×