Senior Policy Adviser at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social https://www.jrf.org.uk/ https://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3mr3kb2zksk27Andy Burnham described “the fair and sustainable way to bring the welfare bill down" in his 1st speech as prime minister today. New @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis shows why tackling underlying problems with jobs, health & housing, not “crude cuts”, would be a popular & lasting approach. 1/1020 Jul 2026 14:52 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3kb2zksk27https://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3meipqhbap22pAs Parliament debates annual benefits 'uprating' today, great to see MPs calling out how arbitrary the process is. Support isn't linked to any calculation of essential costs, meaning 5 in 6 low-income families on Universal Credit going without essentials: https://labourlist.org/2026/02/values-into-action-make-social-security-work/10 Feb 2026 10:07 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3meipqhbap22phttps://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3mdugyzc6wc2bMPs will soon debate the annual benefits ‘Uprating Order' on how much benefits rise this year. But shockingly, support has never been set according to any logical calculation, like ensuring Universal Credit covers life's essentials - which @jrf-uk.bsky.social estimates cost £120 a week🧵1/402 Feb 2026 08:38 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdugyzc6wc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3m7ry24mtrs2pNew analysis suggests the recent rise in health-related benefit claims is likely to be partly explained by the sharp drop in real incomes from the cost of living crisis. Social security should be there for any of us when we need it, such as losing a job or becoming unwell. [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Dec 2025 11:24 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7ry24mtrs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3m6kahhwscs2iToday the OBR finally published employment impacts of Govt’s (remaining) disability benefit cuts, which weren’t ready in the spring. Confirms @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis at the time that these huge cuts to disabled people’s incomes come with relatively few expected to move into work. 🧵1/326 Nov 2025 16:08 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6kahhwscs2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3m5vd4nkwxs25No one in the UK should experience destitution - wherever they were born – and destitution should never be an acceptable outcome of policy. But some policies announced in the Home Secretary’s asylum statement risk increasing destitution. 🧵1/7 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-and-returns-policy-statement18 Nov 2025 08:30 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5vd4nkwxs25https://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3m4ftuc4nfk2cGreat to be at powerful @turn2us.org.uk report launch in Parliament today, alongside @jrf-uk.bsky.social colleagues! Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need support, and treat people with compassion, dignity and respect #StopTheStigma30 Oct 2025 11:21 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4ftuc4nfk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3lzj2qbllok22New DWP data today shows 123,000 families – including 103,000 (over 4 in 5) with children – had their Universal Credit reduced by the benefit cap in May 2025. This eats into UC’s already inadequate basic rate, pulling it further below what’s needed to afford life's essentials. 1/623 Sep 2025 13:47 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzj2qbllok22https://bsky.app/profile/iainkporter.bsky.social/post/3lv4izuqlek2mGovt dropped cuts to PIP, but today's Committee report highlights MPs' concerns that many disabled people will be pushed into poverty by remaining cuts to Universal Credit's health element. In evidence to the inquiry I warned of the hardship this will cause. 1/5 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/29/tens-of-thousands-at-risk-of-poverty-despite-labours-benefit-u-turn-mps-warn29 Jul 2025 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:f266dcopewrhctjfuxfp5stb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lv4izuqlek2m