{"id":803449,"date":"2026-10-15T14:19:43","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T14:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/803449\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T14:19:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T14:19:43","slug":"inside-tower-hamlets-the-over-40s-universal-credit-capital-of-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/803449\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Tower Hamlets, the over-40s universal credit capital of the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Walking around Tower Hamlets, the huge economic divide that polarises this east London borough<\/a> is stark.<\/p>\n

Canary Wharf\u2019s<\/a> glistening skyscrapers and iconic capital landmarks like the Tower of London nestle alongside the shadow of dilapidated tower blocks.<\/p>\n

More than half the children here live below the poverty line and the area has seen claims for benefits <\/a>balloon among its older working-age population.<\/p>\n

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Temperatures to rise above 20\u00b0C before autumn chill arrives \u2013 here\u2019s where<\/p>\n

Temperatures for parts of the UK could reach as high as 23\u00b0C on Thursday as the unusually warn autumnal weather continues. <\/p>\n

\"ThisCaption: This is a photo in a forest on the outskirts of Luxembourg. It was shot in late autumn with all the leaves having a beautiful yellow color.
Photographer: George Pachantouris
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

Warmer weather than expected<\/p>\n

Afternoon highs in areas of eastern England are expected to be about 5-8\u00b0C above the norm for mid-October temperatures.<\/p>\n

However, it will be colder further north and west, with temperatures in much of Scotland and Northern Ireland expected to sit around the seasonal average between 10-16\u00b0C. <\/p>\n

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\nWhat can be expected for the rest of the week?\n<\/p>\n

Some sunny spells will break through near the end of the week, with a few showers also possible in the north and west on Friday, moving to the south-east over the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"WinterCaption: Winter sunshine during November creating a high contrast view of crowds on Buchanan Street in central Glasgow, Scotland.
Photographer: georgeclerk
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

Temperatures will drop to near the October average of 10-16\u00b0C and single-digit lows can be expected at night, with thermometers dropping below freezing in some parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.<\/p>\n

Watch more from The i Paper<\/p>\n

\"RearrangingThe Government has already warned households to stockpile emergency items in the face of multiple threats to food stocks, from climate change to cyber attacks (Photo: Filippo Bacci\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Opinion<\/p>\n

Everyone is talking about stockpiling. This is what I\u2019m actually buying<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Tom Bawden<\/p>\n

Freelance science and environment writer<\/p>\n

With the strongest planet-heating El Ni\u00f1o weather pattern in living memory expected to devastate harvests this winter \u2013 pushing sky-high food prices even higher next year \u2013 I\u2019m preparing to go on a tin buying spree.<\/p>\n

Three things to know as US weighs using \u2018mother of all bombs\u2019 on Iran<\/p>\n

The US military has developed plans that could involve using the \u201cmother of all bombs\u201d on Iranian targets if Donald Trump decides to resume strikes, CNN has reported.<\/p>\n

\"AlCaption: Al Weimorts, creator of the GU43\/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, known colloquially as the Mother of All Bombs or MOAB, with Joseph Fellenz (left), lead model maker, looking over the prototype of the bomb before it was painted and tested, 2008. Image courtesy US DoD. (Photo via Smith Collection\/Gado\/Getty Images).
Photographer: Smith Collection\/Gado
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Archive Photos<\/p>\n

\nWhat is the Moab?\n<\/p>\n

The GBU-43\/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb \u2013 nicknamed the mother of all bombs or Moab \u2013 is the biggest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal. It was developed during the Iraq War and is designed to explode before hitting the ground to project a massive explosion from all sides.<\/p>\n

\"NANGARHAR,Caption: NANGARHAR, AFGHANISTAN \u2013 APRIL 15: Debris of a collapsed building is seen in the Acin district after The US military dropped America\u2019s most powerful non-nuclear bomb on Daesh targets in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan on April 16, 2017. A GBU-43\/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb (MOAB), also known as the \u201cmother of all bombs,\u201d was dropped on Thursday. (Photo by Zabihullah Ghazi\/Anadolu Agency\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Anadolu<\/p>\n

\"ELGINCaption: ELGIN AIR FORCE BASE, FL \u2013 NOVEMBER 21: In this U.S. Air Force handout, a GBU-43\/B bomb, or Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, is launched November 21, 2003 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. MOAB is a 21,700-pound that was droped from a plane at 20, 000 feet. (Photo by USAF via Getty Images)
Photographer: U.S. Air Force
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images North America<\/p>\n

Military officials at the time said they hoped it would rattle Saddam\u2019s troops and persuade them into talks. It was made for use on large groups of enemies, hardened above-ground bunkers, and later approved for targets under softer surfaces like caves.<\/p>\n

Would the bomb be effective?<\/p>\n

The bomb has been suggested for use on energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, but there are questions over how effective it would be.<\/p>\n

Nuclear targets include Pickaxe Mountain, and while the Moab can eviscerate an area equivalent to nine city blocks, there are doubts if it would be able to penetrate deep enough to destroy the nuclear facility.<\/p>\n

The bomb could also cause a large number of civilian casualties, though sources told CNN that Trump could choose to use it as a psychological weapon against the Islamic Republic.<\/p>\n

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\nTrump running out of options\n<\/p>\n

Trump has said he would not launch fresh attacks on Iran before the midterm elections on 3 November, with the conflict proving increasingly unpopular among Americans.<\/p>\n

\"PresidentDonald Trump insisted that the \u2018great announcement\u2019 on Russian energy would help lower diesel costs quickly (Photo: AP)<\/p>\n

Despite boasts of success from Trump, the war has sent oil prices surging with diesel reaching $6.28 a gallon this month. Rising fuel prices have sparked concerns Republicans could suffer badly in the midterms.<\/p>\n

\"ArmedArmed police officers on a road outside RAF Fairford, after police declared a major incident at the base last month (Photo: Toby Shepheard\/Reuters)<\/p>\n

world<\/p>\n

How Trump\u2019s war drove up terror threat to UK from Iran\u2019s shadowy military force<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Nick Miller<\/p>\n

Author, historian and senior fellow at LSE Ideas<\/p>\n

Andy Burnham has firmly pointed the finger at Iran and in particular, he accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of being behind the incident at RAF Fairford.<\/p>\n

EX-DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years \u2013 what you need to know<\/p>\n

Former Democratic Unionist Party leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex abuse and rape.<\/p>\n

\"EDITORSThe trial of former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has been played a police interview with one of his two alleged victims, recorded prior to his arrest (Photo: Brian Lawless\/PA)<\/p>\n

What you need to know <\/p>\n

The former DUP leader, who was an MP for 27 years until 2024, was convicted of 18 counts of sex abuse earlier this year, which he committed against two women when they were children. <\/p>\n

Complainant A said Donaldson had touched her breasts and kissed her, and in one incident, had used a light to examine her crotch. <\/p>\n

Complainant A said Donaldson\u2019s wife, Eleanor, had witnessed an incident where he touched her under her clothing but did not intervene. <\/p>\n

Donaldson was found guilty of eight offences between 1999 and 2008. <\/p>\n

Eleanor Donaldson was found to have aided and abetted his crimes after a trial of the facts but cannot be given a prison sentence on mental health grounds. <\/p>\n

The second victim <\/p>\n

Complainant B is the elder of the two women who was abused by Donaldson.<\/p>\n

Complainant B described an incident where Donaldson \u201clifted her top up and her bra and started to touch her exposed breasts\u201d. <\/p>\n

She added that Donaldson would frequently put his hand down her underwear.<\/p>\n

Complainant B also said Eleanor Donaldson had witnessed an incident where her husband had \u201cplayed\u201d with her breasts. <\/p>\n

The offences were committed between 1985 and 1991.<\/p>\n

\nVictim\u2019s statements\n<\/p>\n

Victim A said the abuse had conditioned her experiences in adult life. She said she still suffers debilitating nightmares and has been medicated since her twenties.<\/p>\n

\"(FILECaption: (FILE PHOTO) Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sexual abuse on October 15,2026 NEWRY, NORTHERN IRELAND \u2013 JUNE 19: Former DUP Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson leaves Newry court house after the Judge sent the jury home for the weekend requesting them to return on Monday on June 19, 2026 in Newry, Northern Ireland. The former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader is facing 18 charges of rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency, involving two alleged victims between 1985 and 2008. A judge ordered a simultaneous trial of facts for his wife, Lady Eleanor Donaldson, who has been accused of five counts related to aiding and abetting her husband\u2019s charges. She is has been deemed unfit to stand trial on mental health grounds. (Photo by Charles McQuillan\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Charles McQuillan
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe<\/p>\n

\"(FILECaption: (FILE PHOTO) Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sexual abuse on October 15,2026 NEWRY, NORTHERN IRELAND \u2013 SEPTEMBER 10: Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at Newry Courthouse in Newry on September 10, 2024 in Newry, Northern Ireland. Jeffery Donaldson faces 18 charges ??? one count of rape, four of gross indecency with or towards a child and 13 of indecent assault on a female between 1985 and 2008. Mrs Donaldson faces five charges ??? abetting rape, cruelty to a person under 16 years old, and three counts of aiding and abetting indecent assault between 1987 and 2008. (Photo by Charles McQuillan\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Charles McQuillan
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe<\/p>\n

Victim B said the abuse has affected every relationship she has ever had. <\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what it is like not to be afraid at night,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Why Sally Rooney\u2019s books are being pulled from the UK<\/p>\n

\"EDINBURGH,Sally Rooney has pledged to use her TV royalties to fund proscribed group Palestine Action (Photo: Simone Padovani\/Getty)<\/p>\n

Irish author Sally Rooney has said her books will no longer be on sale in the UK due to legal complications from her support for Palestine Action, a proscribed terrorist organisation.<\/p>\n

A \u2018serious criminal offence\u2019<\/p>\n

Rooney, who is the author of books such as Normal People, previously pledged to donate sale proceeds to Palestine Action.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cIn July 2025, the direct-action protest group Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. The following month, I wrote an opinion piece expressing my intention to go on supporting Palestine Action.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group is not proscribed in Ireland.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence [\u2026] Faber has therefore determined that it can no longer supply my work within the UK,\u201d Rooney added.<\/p>\n

From 5 July last year, support for Palestine Action can result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years.<\/p>\n

The group has challenged the ban in the Supreme Court. The appeal is yet to be heard. <\/p>\n

\nCan you still get her books?\n<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Ronney\u2019s publisher Faber & Faber announced it would be halting sales in the UK, and her titles appear to have been pulled from sale as ebooks and audiobooks. Booksellers can continue to sell her books until they run out, after which they will not be restocked.<\/p>\n

\"InteriorCaption: Interior of a modern library with long aisle between bookshelves filled with books. Education, knowledge, research, learning, academic study and information access concept. Quiet public library environment with clean architecture and perspective lines.
Photographer: Olena Malik
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\n

The BBC also has TV adaptations of some of her work, and it is not clear whether this will be affected. Rooney has said previously that any fees generated by their availability could be problematic.<\/p>\n

Watch more from The i Paper<\/p>\n

@theipaper<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cI have never been so annoyed on behalf of young people,\u201d says The i Paper\u2019s Housing and Society Correspondent Vicky Spratt. Last week, the Fonagy review of NHS England\u2019s mental health, ADHD and autism services was released, revealing that without a radical overhaul, these mental health and neurodiversity services will be overwhelmed. \u201cBut this report points to lots of things, that were honestly completely avoidable and predictable,\u201d Spratt adds. Read the full article at the link. #news<\/a> #mentalhealth<\/a> #politics<\/a> #UK<\/a> #employment<\/a><\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 The i Paper \u2013 The i Paper<\/a> <\/p>\n

Reform councillors revealed making racist and sexist remarks<\/p>\n

Reform UK candidates and councillors have been revealed using racist, violent and sexist language, an ITV News expos\u00e9 has found.<\/p>\n

\"BIRMINGHAM,Caption: BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM \u2013 SEPTEMBER 4: Attendees take part in Reform UK\u2019s annual conference at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, United Kingdom, on September 4, 2026. (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Photographer: Anadolu
Provider: Anadolu via Getty Images
Source: Anadolu<\/p>\n

What did Reform councillors say?<\/p>\n

In the film, Undercover: A Year in Reform, Reform councillor in Solihull, Alan Feeney, was recorded saying the area has been \u201cinfested\u201d with Asian families, and called them \u201cabsolute parasites\u201d.<\/p>\n

ITV reported Feeney had \u201cmutually agreed\u201d to resign from Reform, citing \u201cpersonal reasons\u201d, and would be continuing as an independent councillor.<\/p>\n

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Further allegations <\/p>\n

Alongside Feeney, fellow Solihull councillor Chris Whelan was recorded using sexist and Islamophobic language.<\/p>\n

Speaking about a female Reform candidate, Whelan said: \u201cIf she was my daughter, it would still be bath night on a Thursday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whelan has resigned from Reform citing health and personal reasons.<\/p>\n

Dean Miller, another Reform councillor, representing Bromley in south London, was recorded calling black children \u201canimals\u201d while campaigning for the party in the Makerfield by-election.<\/p>\n

He told ITV he had been heavily medicated and no longer represented the party.<\/p>\n

\nWhat has been Reform\u2019s response?\n<\/p>\n

Reform has said \u201cthere is no room for racism\u201d in the party. A party spokesman said \u201cinvestigations have commenced\u201d and there have been some suspensions. Reform added that it had improved its vetting but that \u201ca handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"DONCASTER,Promising the earth without any real power is a very easy way to grandstand, but when Reform did win big in the local elections it has already started to unravel (Photo: Christopher Furlong\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Nigel Farage has repeatedly said he wants to rid the party of \u201cbad apples\u201d and has previously insisted he didn\u2019t want Reform to be \u201ca sectarian or racially based party in any way at all\u201d.<\/p>\n

\nHow have other parties reacted?\n<\/p>\n

Labour has described the revelations as \u201ctruly sickening\u201d, adding: \u201cNigel Farage can\u2019t shrug these latest revelations off as being a few bad apples.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND \u2013 SEPTEMBER 11: Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch speaks to the media after visiting the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum on September 11, 2026 in London, England. Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch and Shadow Culture Secretary Rebecca Paul are viewing the Bayeux Tapestry while it\u2019s on loan to the British Museum from France through July 2027. The 70-metre-long embroidery was made in the 11th century and depicts the story of the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde\/Getty Images)
Photographer: Alishia Abodunde
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: 2026 Getty Images<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,\u2018Andy Burnham is a savvy operator in the old media as much as the new,\u2019 writes Adam Boulton (Photo: Jonathan Brady\/WPA\/Getty)<\/p>\n

The Conservative Party said: \u201cNigel Farage promised to make Reform ready for government. These sorry individuals are proof he has failed.\u201d<\/p>\n

How one in six on disability benefits \u2018do not face extra costs\u2019<\/p>\n

Around one in six working age people who receive disability benefit do not incur extra costs because of their conditions, a new report has found.<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,Protesters during a demonstration against benefit cuts in Westminster last year (Photo: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

What PIP is meant to do<\/p>\n

The personal independence payment (PIP) is a disability benefit designed to help cover extra living costs from long-term physical or mental health conditions. <\/p>\n

However, the Resolution Foundation think-tank said its research suggested 16 per cent of those on PIP reported no additional costs due to their condition.<\/p>\n

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\nA saving of \u00a34.4bn\n<\/p>\n

The think-tank said a redesigned system could remove 12 per cent of claimants by 2029-30 and switch payments for a further 4 per cent to improved non-financial support. <\/p>\n

Combined, the report claimed the measures could save \u00a34.4bn by targeting those whose conditions increase their outgoings.<\/p>\n

\"Close-upCaption: Close-up on digital tablet on desk top. (Mock-up.)
Photographer: John_Lamb
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

A change of this nature would affect younger PIP claimants particularly, with 21 per cent of those in the 16- 24 years caseload reporting no additional costs and little limitation from their disability.<\/p>\n

\"RedCaption: Red stair chair lift for people with disability
Photographer: South_agency
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

Other suggestions for reform<\/p>\n

The think-tank also suggested one-off payments could be more effective for people who reported a particular cost such as a mobility aid.<\/p>\n

It also recommended that claimants should be asked more specifically about their extra costs and needs and be subject to more frequent but \u201clower stakes check-ins.\u201d<\/p>\n

How many people are on PIP?<\/p>\n

Official data shows 4.09 million people were entitled to claim PIP as of 31 July, 2026.<\/p>\n

This is an increase of 7 per cent from last year<\/p>\n

The number of claimants has roughly doubled since comparable figures began in January 2019<\/p>\n

Up to \u00a316.3bn was spent on PIP in 2019-20 when adjusted for inflation, which increased to \u00a327.3bn in 2024-25 according to Department for Work and Pensions statistics<\/p>\n

It is currently predicted to rise to \u00a341.5bn by 2030-31<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

politics<\/p>\n

The key benefit cuts that look likely after Burnham hints at shake-up<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Eleanor Langford<\/p>\n

Political Reporter<\/p>\n

Two reviews due this autumn will shape what comes next for universal credit and personal independence payments.<\/p>\n

news<\/p>\n

The recruitment scam warning catching out 47% of Gen Z<\/p>\n

\"YoungCaption: Young businessman working on laptop and looking worried in modern office conference room
Photographer: MoMo Productions
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Digital Vision<\/p>\n

Nearly half of adults aged 18-24 have been sent a message offering a job they had not applied for, a survey by Virgin Media O2 has found.<\/p>\n

\nWhat people should watch out for\n<\/p>\n

The company warned that recruitment scams can appear convincing, with victims tricked into paying fees, sending money, clicking links or downloading software.<\/p>\n

\"ManCaption: Man using a credit card to pay bills
Photographer: damircudic
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+<\/p>\n

O2 identified scams on its network that promised hundreds of pounds for an hour or so of work per day, whilst others just looked like a regular message from a recruitment agency.<\/p>\n

Worries over finding work exacerbates the problem<\/p>\n

Half of the 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed said they are concerned about missing a genuine opportunity if they ignore unexpected recruitment messages.<\/p>\n

Of those, 35 per cent said they would be tempted to respond to an attractive offer, even if they thought it might not be genuine.<\/p>\n

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How to check for a scam<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore responding to an unexpected job message, check the opportunity directly with the company using contact details you\u2019ve found yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Murray Mackenzie, director of fraud prevention at Virgin Media O2<\/p>\n

\"\"Photographer: Maskot
Provider: Getty Images\/Maskot
Source: Maskot
Copyright: Copyright Maskot<\/p>\n

Watch more from The i Paper<\/p>\n

@theipaper<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cI have never been so annoyed on behalf of young people,\u201d says The i Paper\u2019s Housing and Society Correspondent Vicky Spratt. Last week, the Fonagy review of NHS England\u2019s mental health, ADHD and autism services was released, revealing that without a radical overhaul, these mental health and neurodiversity services will be overwhelmed. \u201cBut this report points to lots of things, that were honestly completely avoidable and predictable,\u201d Spratt adds. Read the full article at the link. #news<\/a> #mentalhealth<\/a> #politics<\/a> #UK<\/a> #employment<\/a><\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 The i Paper \u2013 The i Paper<\/a> <\/p>\n

Astronomers discover first ever green star<\/p>\n

The first-ever green star has been detected (and catchily named WD J1330+6435) by astronomers at Warwick University.<\/p>\n

\"EnrichedCaption: Enriched from above: The cool white dwarf WDJ1330+6435 has accreted sodium-rich rocky material from its planetary system into its atmosphere. The immense atmospheric density causes the sodium to absorb light over broad range of yellow, orange, and red wavelengths, giving the WDJ1330+6435 a ghostly green appearance. Credit: Mark A Garlick\/University of Warwick
Copyright: Mark A Garlick\/University of Warwick<\/p>\n

What type of star is it?<\/p>\n

The star is a white dwarf \u2013 the collapsed core left behind when a burnt-out star reaches the end of its life and ejects its outer layers.<\/p>\n

But their name can be misleading, with researchers at the university finding them in shades of yellow, pink, purple and now green.<\/p>\n

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How scientists worked out its colour<\/p>\n

White dwarfs are so dense and dim that they are not bright enough to be seen as a circle even with the use of a telescope, only appearing as a single point.<\/p>\n

This also means that our eyes can\u2019t detect its colour<\/p>\n

To work out its shade, scientists had to analyse the chemical make-up of the light to identify the colour of the star if it\u2019s close enough to see<\/p>\n

They found that in the atmosphere of the star, sodium was absorbing yellow, orange and red wavelengths of light, while calcium absorbed violet and blue<\/p>\n

A model of the human optical system concluded that because of this, the star would appear a \u201cghostly\u201d shade of green<\/p>\n

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More than half of the 50- to 64-year-olds in Tower Hamlets claim universal credit<\/a> (UC), the highest in England and Wales, research by the TaxPayers\u2019 Alliance (TPA) shows. It also has the joint-highest share of people in their 40s claiming universal credit (43.5 per cent), alongside Birmingham.<\/p>\n

People who are on a low income, out of work or unable to work<\/a> can claim the benefit, which is designed to help with living costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When presented with the data, some residents were shocked, while others weren\u2019t surprised, saying that the area has \u201cfallen by the wayside\u201d and that there is a lack of opportunities.<\/p>\n

Tower Hamlets Council says the reasons the area has the highest number of benefit claimants aged 50 to 64 are \u201ccomplex and cannot be viewed in isolation\u201d, with the borough facing \u201csignificant levels of poverty, high housing costs and wider economic pressures\u201d.<\/p>\n

The wider benefits issue<\/p>\n

The i Paper previously visited Blackpool<\/a> and Thanet<\/a> \u2013 areas which have the highest and second-highest numbers of UC claimants aged between 20 to 29 \u2013 but Tower Hamlets\u2019 issues lie with the older generation.<\/p>\n

Statistics from the TPA show that 50.4 per cent of those aged 50 to 59, and 51 per cent of those aged 60 to 64, claim UC in the local authority.<\/p>\n

\"(The area of Tower Hamlets includes Canary Wharf, a major banking hub and global economic powerhouse (Photo: James Linsell Clark\/SWNS) <\/p>\n

The research also found that 43.5 per cent of 40- to 49 year-olds in Tower Hamlets are on UC, the joint highest alongside Birmingham<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Benefit reform is set to be a key issue for Chancellor John Healey<\/a> in the autumn Budget<\/a> and the coming months, with leading economists warning he faces having to raise taxes or slash the welfare bill by up to \u00a335bn.<\/p>\n

Amid growing pressure<\/a> on Healey to cut spending, the welfare system is straining under a record number of benefit claimants \u2013 24.5 million in March 2026, according to the latest Government figures.<\/p>\n

Of that total, almost 8.3 million were claiming UC.<\/p>\n

\u2018Everything has fallen by the wayside\u2019<\/p>\n

In the middle of a quiet market, Erica, 74, told The i Paper of the difficulties faced by those living in Tower Hamlets.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything has fallen by the wayside. I just feel that the council are not willing to come forward and help as much as they should and that\u2019s why a lot of people want benefits to survive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe cost of living<\/a> is just so high here, the rents are going up every year and salaries are not high enough for people to live on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know people that have two or three jobs, so obviously they are going to take universal credit if they can get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pensioner added: \u201cThat\u2019s something that the Government should look at in the October Budget.\u201d<\/p>\n

One woman told The i Paper that she claimed UC as she was out of work due to a medical condition.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that a lot of people around here have lost their jobs due to things like automation,\u201d the 49-year-old said.<\/p>\n

\"(Matthew Illing said that he sees lots of people that he would usually expect to be at work during the day (Photo: James Linsell Clark\/SWNS)<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions<\/a> (DWP) said three-quarters of the increase in universal credit cases since July 2024 have been driven by people moving from legacy benefits that UC replaced, a transition started by the previous government.<\/p>\n

The DWP added that many UC recipients are already in employment, but reforms from two reviews into benefits and joblessness<\/a> commissioned by the Government, the Timms\u00a0and\u00a0Milburn Reviews<\/a>\u00a0 due this autumn, will \u201cput work and opportunity at the heart of the system\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Government is also investing \u00a33.5bn in employment support for disabled people and those with long-term\u00a0conditions, the department said.<\/p>\n

Matthew Illing, 30, was another who wasn\u2019t surprised by the borough\u2019s UC figures. \u201cIt\u2019s certainly not a wealthy area,\u201d the data analyst said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m out during the day, I often see a lot of people that you would expect to be at work, more so than when I have lived in other areas of London.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ethnic minority communities \u2018face disadvantage in job market\u2019, says council<\/p>\n

Ahmed Elnaggar, who works in the energy industry, said he was shocked by the statistics.<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old said a contributing factor could be that large parts of the population in Tower Hamlets are from ethnic minority backgrounds, \u201cwhich traditionally have disadvantaged socio-economic situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

DWP data from May 2026 found that 62.2 per cent of UC claimants in Tower Hamlets were Asian\/Asian British, 20 per cent were white, 9.2 per cent were black and 3.5 per cent were mixed race.<\/p>\n

Figures from a 2021 census carried out by the Office for National Statistics found the population of Tower Hamlets is 44.5 per cent Asian\/Asian British, 39.3 per cent white, 7.4 per cent black and 3.6 per cent mixed race.<\/p>\n

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said the area \u201chas a diverse population, and national evidence shows that some ethnic minority communities experience higher levels of poverty and disadvantage in the job market throughout their working lives\u201d.<\/p>\n

Robin West, Senior Lecturer in sociology at London Metropolitan University, said that ethnic minorities are disproportionately at risk of unemployment because of \u201cexisting disadvantages and inequalities\u201d. <\/p>\n

These include \u201cliving in deprived areas, discrimination, or lacking access to social networks that would serve as entry points through knowledge of local work opportunities\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

Elnaggar also said that there is a lack of employment opportunities in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cI find that it is very residential and there aren\u2019t many small businesses compared to other areas of London I have lived in, which I guess means less job opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jim Ford, one of the directors of community-based, anti-poverty charity SocietyLinks, said that older people struggle with job opportunities.<\/p>\n

\"JimJim Ford said that older people also struggle with job opportunities in Tower Hamlets (Photo: James Linsell Clark\/SWNS) <\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of younger people will move out of Tower Hamlets to raise families, but older people don\u2019t necessarily want to move out of the area, and they suffer with the lack of opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat also doesn\u2019t help is that the area is probably overpopulated, which just increases the competition for jobs,\u201d the 74-year-old added.<\/p>\n

What is being done to help the situation?<\/p>\n

Many of the residents that spoke to The i Paper called on both the council and the Government to implement policies that would help those struggling with the cost of living and voiced support for Andy Burnham\u2019s back-to-work scheme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Responding to questions about the high percentage of 50- to 64-year-olds on UC, the council said: \u201cWhat is encouraging is that many people in this age group want to work, remain in work or increase their earnings, but often need tailored support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through the support it provides, the council said that it has helped 350 residents get back into work in the last year.<\/p>\n

The spokesperson added: \u201cThere is no single solution, but by combining employment support, skills development and strong partnerships with local employers, we are helping residents access sustainable, rewarding work and greater financial security.\u201d<\/p>\n

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