Shock and Awe - One Society Media Release

Submitted by Kathryn Busby on 27 January 2010

One Society Media Release - 27 January  2010

Shock and Awe

One Society - the newly formed campaign to reduce income inequality - welcomes the National Equality Panel's report as a wakeup call for all voters and political parties.  The current high levels of income inequality simply cannot be justified and need to be reversed.  A more equal society would not just benefit the poorest; everyone's quality of life would be improved.  And public policy changes are acknowledged as a huge part of reaching that goal.

Malcolm Clark, Campaign Director of One Society, responding to the publication of the report, said:

"The report warns readers they might be shocked by the sheer scale of the inequality and its effects ... and duly delivers a picture of a Britain that should make us all angry and ready to act." 

"No one can now say income inequality doesn't matter.  It demonstrably does: it affects the quality of our lives, the health of our economy and the state of the communities that we live in."

"Inequality is not just something that effects the poorest either.  The report calls for action to address inequality between those who are quite well-off and those who are below the average, but not at the bottom.  This echoes what The Spirit Level and other studies have found: people throughout the income scale have to bear the social, mental and financial costs of a more unequal society."

"Business leaders as well as politicians should take note that inequality does not make us more economically successful.  At the bottom, potential is wasted and spending power reduced.  In wider terms, a more stressed workforce, the perpetual pressures for wage increases to keep up with the top earners, and higher externality costs all have a negative impact.  As other countries prove, you can have growth without being so unequal."

"However, there is hope.  The report emphasises how inequality is not inevitable.  Public policy is recognized as having a big role to play in tackling inequality.  Government action - not just top-down but a whole series of approaches - has and can have an effect. 

"The immediate challenge is to make sure that inequality is not further entrenched by our response to the economy's exit from recession.  The top 10-20% have seen their incomes rise fastest and furthest in recent times, so it should only be fair that those people should bear the costs of recovery more than those who have gained least."

"The other priority is for politicians to take on board how income inequality is so pervasive and such a contributory factor to so many other social ills.  Real improvements in income and wealth equality are needed if equality of opportunity and social mobility are ever to be more than just election slogans.  We will be in awe of politicians' timidity and recklessness if they do not grasp this lesson."

Notes to editors:

1.     One Society is a new campaign, set up in association with The Equality Trust, to highlight the negative effects of income inequality, showcase research and policy solutions, and bring together people and organisations in support of a more equal society. 

2.     One Society believes that a larger divide, in wealth and power, between those at the very top and the rest of society is damaging to national well being.  More equal societies work better for everyone; not just those at the bottom but right the way up: we all benefit.

3.     One Society will officially launch its campaigning activity in early February (with the publication of pamphlets produced by Demos) and will focus on making the issue of income inequality - and practical proposals to reduce it - an election issue.  In the meantime, comment and developments are available via the campaign's twitter feed: @One_Society and website www.onesociety.org.uk  

4.     Compelling evidence shows that large income inequalities within societies damage the social fabric and quality of life for everyone. The evidence is published in Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett's book The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better (Allen Lane, 2009)

Media Contacts:

Malcolm Clark, campaign director of One Society, can be contacted on (t) 020 7922 7921 (m) 07733322148, by email malcolm@onesociety.org.uk or via Twitter @One_Society

Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, authors of The Spirit Level, are also available for comment and interview.  To arrange please contact The Equality Trust - 020 7922 7927 / kathryn.busby@equalitytrust.org.uk