On London Latest: Sad paradox

The capital produces the most wealth for the nation, yet has its highest poverty rate. The On London website has been reporting it all

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I saw the saddest sight from the top deck of a 254 the other day, a man walking down the middle of the road near Bethnal Green station, his left leg a mess of bandages, his weight supported by a crutch, a flat cap in his right hand. He was working his way down a line of cars waiting at a red light. At each vehicle, he held the cap out. I didn’t see him gather any change.

You never know what the background to such scenarios is, of course. Experience suggests you wouldn’t find out even if you asked. Sometimes, people in these situations don’t really know themselves. We are left to speculate, to thank our lucky stars and to wonder how London might look after its struggling people better.

The deep paradox of the capital, one thrust into the light by the effects of the pandemic and now highlighted again by the Labour government’s lukewarm attitude to it of late, is that it simultaneously generates great wealth, much of it spread around the country, and harbours high poverty rates. Both sides of that coin have been reported and explored at On London since this time last week.