Fury as UN expert on ‘extreme poverty’ probes BRITAIN over claims austerity has ravaged the country
Australian professor Philip Alston will investigate the effects of spending cuts in the UK
UN officials sparked anger today by launching a mission a probe into "extreme poverty" - in BRITAIN.
The agency's top poverty expert - who usually investigates poor countries in Africa and Asia - is visiting the UK to probe the impact of austerity.
Australian professor Philip Alston, the "special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights", says he'll investigate whether spending cuts have "gone too far".
Hard-left figures today welcomed the visit expected later this year, saying it proves the Government's austerity policy "shames Britain".
But Tory MPs insisted the plans were a waste of time and money because the UK is one of the richest countries in the world.
Mr Alston : "The UK has gone through a period of pretty deep budget cuts first under the coalition and then the Conservatives and I am interested to see what the outcome of that has been.
"Welfare cuts have taken place but there is now an interesting debate on whether they have gone too far and what measures need to be taken to shore up the NHS and other programmes."
He also suggested that poverty should be reclassified as having "a lack of political power".
Top Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Sun the UN mission was pointless, saying: "A report out last week showed a continued fall in absolute child poverty.
"Surely the UN has better ways of wasting money."
But Labour's John McDonnell welcomed the news, and Corbynista MP Chris Williamson added: "This Conservative Government shames Great Britain."
Mr Alston's previous probes include trips to China, Romania, Saudi Arabia and Guinea-Bissau.
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But he stirred up a row this year by issuing a report on the US which claimed Donald Trump's "cruel policies" were deliberately driving Americans into poverty.
The UN has repeatedly launched controversial investigations into Britain - most recently, racism rapporteur Tendayi Achiume controversially suggested Brexit had stirred up racial hatred in the UK.
Earlier reports included claims that Britain's benefits policies and planning rules were breaches of human rights.
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