Survey: 'Poor should fend for themselves'

A GROWING number of voters believe that those living below the poverty level should start fending for themselves.

A survey of over 2,000 adults released by think tank Demos today suggests public opinion has hardened this year against government help for people in poverty, with a growing trend towards "personal responsibility", the report said.

William Bradley of Demos said: "This poll shows why redistributing by stealth is a policy with a big political downside. Although people support the government's role in helping those in poverty, they also think people should not rely on the government for support.

"There is clear evidence of a hardening of public opinion and people have either forgotten about the way poverty was reduced over the last ten years, or were unaware of it happening.

"Most worryingly, people underestimate the proportion of people living in poverty in the UK, but think it is going to get worse over the next ten years."