Britain | The economy

Mass unemployment threatens Britain

The country is ill-prepared

“I’VE HAD members of my association claiming universal credit and they’re shocked by how low it is,” says a Tory MP. It is unusual for Conservative stalwarts to see the benefits system at close quarters: almost three decades of mostly low unemployment have reserved it for the unfortunate few. But as the furlough scheme winds down and the deepest recession for a century hits employment, the system’s weaknesses will gain new political salience.

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “It’s coming”

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From the August 22nd 2020 edition

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