2005/03/15
British MPs Seek to End Poverty, but Make No Concrete Offers
LONDON, Mar 15 (IPS) - A majority of British MPs have signed up for a resolution to make poverty history -- but not voted to take action on it. Their support comes through a parliamentary resolution that does not arise from within the parliament chamber. It comes by way of signing up to what is known as an Early Day Motion (EDM). Copies of the motion are placed in the House of Commons for MPs to sign up to, in the knowledge that these are not likely to be debated within Parliament. No EDM this year has drawn as much support as EDM number 9 tabled by Labour MP Julia Drown.

2004/07/01
UK: The poor are getting poorer
One fourth of the British households are poor and the north-south divide is getting wider, claim British researchers.