Memorandum-to-the-Prime-Minister-on-Unaffordable-Housing

‘When was it that we saw you hungry, thirsty, an alien, naked, ill or in prison
and did nothing for you’
A blindness recognised from <strong>the</strong> Cross when he said “Forgive <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>the</strong>y don't know what <strong>the</strong>y are doing”, Jesus
had placed himself among <strong>the</strong> habitually oppressed before he entered <strong>the</strong> sufferings of <strong>the</strong> crucified.
The Edi<strong>to</strong>rs
The Chief Priests in Mr Watson’s case can be found behind <strong>the</strong> edi<strong>to</strong>rial desks of <strong>the</strong> powerful tabloid press
persuading <strong>the</strong> crowd that everyone receiving benefits from a lone parent <strong>to</strong> an asylum seeker are ripping us
off, fraudulent, idle or work shy.The conclusion reached by Elaine Kempson of Bris<strong>to</strong>l University and Sue
Middle<strong>to</strong>n of Loughborough at an ESRC seminar was that:
‘In general low income people manage <strong>the</strong>ir finances with care, skill and resourcefulness but no
money management strategy can be sustained if income is <strong>to</strong>o low <strong>to</strong> make ends meet.’
Andrew Marr has written in My Trade:
‘After <strong>the</strong> problems of trust, <strong>the</strong>re are, just as serious, problems of <strong>to</strong>ne - above all exaggeration.
The tabloids pretend <strong>to</strong> quiver and shock about <strong>the</strong> absolutely normal.We wring <strong>the</strong> facts <strong>to</strong> get
<strong>the</strong> biggest emotional impact.’
The Politicians
Mr.Watson’s benefit was half <strong>the</strong> minimum income needed for healthy living established in research at <strong>the</strong>
Family Budget Unit and <strong>the</strong> London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine because politicians have adopted
<strong>the</strong> position that it is very difficult, if not impossible, <strong>to</strong> increase it and remain in power. Politicians have found
<strong>the</strong> principles of economic justice drowned by <strong>the</strong> exaggerations of <strong>the</strong> tabloid press. Like Pilate <strong>the</strong>ir need is <strong>to</strong>
retain political power from <strong>the</strong> support of a largely hostile, distrusting or apa<strong>the</strong>tic population.
The Wealthy
The pressure from <strong>the</strong> wealthy for <strong>the</strong> reduction of taxation, or an increase in <strong>the</strong>ir share of <strong>the</strong> national or
global wealth, puts <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong> role of Judas, claiming <strong>the</strong> thirty pieces of silver <strong>to</strong> betray <strong>the</strong>ir fellow citizens,
who are abandoned <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> courts that enforce <strong>the</strong>ir high-interest unrepayable debts against inadequate statu<strong>to</strong>ry
minimum incomes with threats of eviction and prison.
Writing in <strong>the</strong> Specta<strong>to</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> 12 March 2005 Stanislas Yassukovich, a former chairman of <strong>the</strong> Securities
Association and deputy chairman of <strong>the</strong> International S<strong>to</strong>ck Exchange commented:
‘The City cannot prosper in moral isolation from <strong>the</strong> general public. Unless it rediscovers <strong>the</strong>
difference between right and wrong - as a concept separate from technical compliance with written
rules - it risks damaging <strong>the</strong> entire economic system on which its prosperity depends.’
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Zacchaeus 2000 Trust - <strong>Memorandum</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Prime</strong> <strong>Minister</strong> - May 2005