<P> In 2017 inequality has been forecast to return to the levels of the Thatcher years . Torsten Bell of the Resolution Foundation, said: "(A) boom is slowing rapidly as inflation rises, productivity flatlines and employment growth slows . (... (This time around it's low - and middle - income families with kids who are set to be worst affected . This could leave Britain with the worst of both worlds on living standards--the weak income growth of the last parliament and rising inequality from the time Margaret Thatcher was in Downing Street . The prime minister's focus on supporting just managing families is absolutely right ." </P> <P> Inflation has been rising while the level of many benefits has remained fixed in money terms . This is causing hardship to low income families and there are calls for the level of benefits to be increased . </P> <P> Poverty within the UK is particularly concentrated in the country of Wales . While the relative income - poverty rate for the UK stood at 16.8% in 2014, the same poverty rate for Wales stood at 23% in the same year . Poverty in Wales has remained in the 25% range, with only small dips throughout the last decade . While the trends correlate with overall reductions in less impoverished areas of the UK, it does not correlate with Scotland, who in the 1990s, had a relative similar poverty trend as Wales . Conservative attitudes began to grow during the reign of the Labour party in the 2000s, culminating in an overall negative opinion towards public spending increases beginning in the 2010s . This negative trend created a lack of support for Welsh poverty reduction efforts, and can explain much of the stagnation present in the rate . The lack of attention to Wales has led to a consistent issue in Welsh politics being that of poverty, with efforts to primarily reduce the prevalence of childhood and Fuel Poverty a priority . </P> <P> Data published in 2014 by New Policy Institute and Trust for London found in the three years to 2012 / 13, 2.2 million people were in poverty in London after housing costs . This figure represents 28% of London's population, 8 percentage points higher than the rest of England . Further research published by Trust for London, carried out by Loughborough University, found that 4 in 10 Londoners cannot afford what the public regard as a decent standard of living - one that allows them to meet their basic needs and participate in society at a minimum level . This is significantly higher than the 30% that fall below the standard in the UK as a whole . This represents 3.5 million Londoners, an increase of 400,000 since 2010 / 11 . </P>

Where is the most poverty in the uk