Ruth Lister

High Pay Matters May 2011
Ruth Lister on the interim report of the High Pay Commission.

Making poverty matter May 2010
The Tories have seized on Labour's record to argue that it proves that 'big government' is no longer a solution to poverty and is now a cause of it. Ruth Lister argues that, on the contrary, the state needs to do much more - and the left needs to defend it

The irresponsibility of the rich September 2008
Inequality has widened: the child poverty figures are up by 100,000 for the second year running and pensioner poverty is once again on the rise. Faced with these shocking figures, Ruth Lister argues for a radical shift in the terms of the debate

A defining value June 2007
Tony Blair spoke the language of social exclusion and opportunity rather than of poverty and equality on taking office. He and other ministers made clear that redistribution through the tax-benefits system was no longer on Labour's agenda. So there were no illusions to be dashed with regard to tackling poverty and inequality.