REACTION: UK government Levelling Up strategy

In response to the UK government’s Levelling Up strategy, Silvia Galandini, Oxfam Domestic Poverty lead said:

“Oxfam welcomes the government’s ambition to reduce the gap between the richest and poorest in the country. With 14.5 million people living in poverty - including an estimated 700,000 more people due to the pandemic - there’s a vital need to better organise our economy so it works for everyone.

“However greater equality will only be achieved through investment, for example, progressive taxes on wealth as well as income, windfall pandemic profits and clamping down on tax dodging. Increasing investment will also help tackle the gender and racial inequalities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic; particularly for women and those from Black and ethnic minority groups, who carry out the majority of under-paid and unpaid care work.”

Ends