The most immediate issues we have to address
Unemployment
- Many jobs have disappeared permanently because of Covid-19. More jobs will be lost
- Artificial Intelligence and automation will replace an increasing number of jobs
- Gig economy jobs are temporary and insecure
- There are few ‘new’ employment opportunities
Social Impact
- Covid-related poverty is increasing, with its attendant health and social problems
- Increasing numbers of people will have nothing to hope for . . . and therefore, nothing to lose
- We are likely to see an increase in crime, anti-social behaviour, addiction, mental health
problems, violence and children in chaotic homes
Support Services
- The National Health Service and Social Care systems are under-funded
- Other public services have been progressively privatised and under-invested to the point where they are now unable to meet society’s needs
- Whole regions of the country have been systematically under-funded
- Failings in the ‘Universal Credit’ system mean that hard-working people have to use Foodbanks to survive
