Disabled people are more at risk of having to make the difficult decision between heating and eating
Before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic disabled workers faced huge barriers getting into and staying in work (writes TUC General Secretary PAUL NOWAK).
The pandemic, and the huge changes it has caused to our everyday lives, has exacerbated the barriers disabled people face.
Not only have disabled people been disproportionately affected in terms of loss of life, with six in 10 Covid-19 related deaths being disabled people, but pre-existing workplace barriers have been accentuated by the pandemic.
And now, new data published by the TUC for our disabled workers conference shows disabled workers are much more likely to earn less than non-disabled workers.
That’s not right.
Having an impairment should never mean you get paid less or that you’re on worse terms and conditions. However, for too many disabled workers in this country, it is an all too true reality.
With spiralling inflation and eye watering bills, workers are having their income stretched in every direction. But for disabled people, the situation is even more challenging.
Let’s not forget – disabled workers face even higher living costs than non-disabled workers. So as the cost-of-living crisis continues to play havoc with everyone’s lives, we know that these workers are feeling the pinch even more.
But the challenges don’t end there.
Disabled workers also encounter more barriers in the workplace than non-disabled colleagues – with many worried that if they ask their employer for the reasonable adjustments they need to do their job, they’ll be refused outright.
New TUC analysis reveals disabled workers are much more likely to be paid less than their non-disabled colleagues – with those in the North of England and Wales even more likely to be paid less.
And we know that disabled people are more at risk of having to make the difficult decision between heating and eating.
With this cost-of-living crisis not looking like it’s going to end any time soon, things are only going to get worse. We need action now.
With the government too focused on its own political survival, ministers have done nothing to put the mind of disabled workers at ease.
Our call is clear: It’s time to end the pay disparity that penalises disabled workers and it’s time disabled workers get the support they need in the workplace.
At the TUC’s disabled workers conference, we heard from delegates about how the cost-of-living crisis is hitting disabled workers across the country. And we heard how we can build workplaces that work for everyone.
That means stamping out insecure work by banning zero-hour contracts, increasing the minimum wage and outlawing fire and rehire.
That means giving disabled workers fair access to request reasonable adjustments, and fining those employers who discriminate against workers because of any impairment.
And that means forcing employers to come with an action plan to report their disability pay and employment gaps.
This is a plan which will deliver and transform the lives of so many disabled workers across the country.
Edinburgh parents urged to seek help with employment
A new campaign will encourage families living on a low income to access local support with finances and work.
It encourages people to take the first step towards relieving these pressures with help from the Parent Club website. This can guide them towards tailored support to help them improve their situation by starting work after unemployment, returning to work or improving earnings.
The campaign which includes TV, radio and online advertising, highlights the pressures of everyday life and shows parents feeling the ‘walls closing in’ on them as they juggle family life with bills and other costs.
Cllr Joan Griffiths, Education, Children and Families Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We know that many families in Edinburgh are finding it hard to make ends meet at the moment and are looking for advice on things like finding work and applying for benefits.
“Taking the first step at ParentClub.scot can help find services that offer free, confidential and tailored advice that can really make a difference for families across Scotland.
“For anyone that’s feeling worried, stressed and overwhelmed, but aren’t sure where to start, please know you’re not alone and that help is available.”
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We understand the anxiety and stress, that low-income families could be living with and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis is likely to be making even worse.
“Parent Club can guide people to free and confidential tailored advice from local authority employment services, where they can access support relevant to their own work and family situation.
“It also offers information on how to get help from the Money Talk Team who can advise on areas such as maximising income and dealing with debt. Parent Club also provides sources of support with mental health and stress.
“Tackling child poverty is our national mission. We want to make sure parents know what help is out there and claim any support they should be getting.”
Citizens Advice Scotland CEO Derek Mitchell said: “When times are difficult it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by bills mounting up – but our advice is free, confidential, and impartial.
“The Citizens Advice network is working with the Scottish Government to deliver the Money Talk Team service. We can check to see what payments you might be missing out on or any cheaper deals are available to you. If you are struggling with debt we can help with that too.
“Don’t delay, you could be missing out on money that could make a huge difference to you and your family’s finances.”
Average wealth has increased by 59% in the past decade while earnings have grown just 19%
Even among the wealthiest the value of assets has grown by 64% compared with 20% for salaries
The growth in average wealth from assets including property and investments has been three times higher than the growth in average earnings over the past decade, new analysis* from Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management shows.
Figures show people are being out-earned by their homes and other investments, with average wealth rising 59% over the past decade compared with 19% growth in salaries over the same period, according to Handelsbanken Wealth Management & Asset Management’s analysis of the latest Government data on Britons’ wealth and assets and earnings.
Average wealth for Britons is estimated at £575,948 after a decade of growth from £361,831, with house price rises as well as increases in pensions, investments and physical wealth including possessions all appreciating in value since 2010. By contrast, average earnings have only increased to £31,840.
For the wealthiest 25% of the population, the growth in assets has been even more impressive – they now own wealth estimated at £733,800 compared with £447,900 a decade ago. They have seen their wealth increase 34% faster than the British average, while their salaries have increased 22% faster.
Of course, the growth in wealth has not been shared equally throughout the country – the wealthiest people in London have seen their wealth grow by 77% over the period to an average £902,400, compared with £495,200 in 2010.
The top 25% wealthiest in the North East have only seen growth of 30% during the same period, taking them to an average £459,500, which equates to an increase of £105,300. Growth among the top quartile of wealthiest people in the South East was 77% during the same period, compared with 69% in the East of England and 66% in the South and Wales. The North West saw growth of 45%.
PK Patel, Head of Wealth Management at Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management, said: “Earnings growth has on average been constrained over the past 10 years, with most people relying on their houses, investments, and possessions to boost their wealth.
“It is fascinating to see the gulf between the increase in asset values and the increase in average earnings over the past decade, and is instructive for advisers and their clients on how to plan their finances and assess their wealth.
“No matter how your total wealth is made up, it’s important to have a clear plan on how you want to use it for your own future and for the benefit of other family members.”
Table one: wealth and salary growth for the richest quartile by UK region, 2008-10 vs 2018-20
Region
Top quartile average wealth
Top quartile average salary
2008-10
2018-20
Growth
2010
2020
Growth
North East
£354,200
£459,500
30%
27736.5
£33,108
19%
North West
£387,400
£561,400
45%
29272
£35,256
20%
Yorkshire & the Humber
£376,300
£556,300
48%
28591.5
£33,890
19%
East Midlands
£415,500
£617,900
49%
29442
£35,204
20%
West Midlands
£399,200
£621,500
56%
28654.5
£35,003
22%
East of England
£511,500
£864,700
69%
33006.5
£38,938
18%
London
£495,200
£902,400
82%
39157.5
£47,423
21%
South East
£597,100
£1,058,000
77%
34775.5
£40,834
17%
South West
£485,300
£805,500
66%
28887
£34,434
19%
Wales
£383,900
£635,700
66%
27845.5
£33,453
20%
Scotland
£364,000
£584,800
61%
30072.5
£36,889
23%
Great Britain
£447,900
£733,800
64%
31401
£37,625
20%
Table two: average wealth and salary growth by UK region, 2008-10 vs 2018-20
Paddy McGuinness is the most influential UK game show host, potentially earning £4,129.02 per sponsored post on Instagram
Most influential hosts came from North of England, beating London talent
Davina McCall is the only female presenter in the top ten, earning an estimated £3,086.50 per sponsored post
New analysis has revealed that Paddy McGuinness is the most influential UK game show host on Instagram.
The study conducted by SolitaireBliss analysed Instagram profiles of the presenters and marketing calculators to determine how influential the game show hosts are on social media.
Paddy McGuinness takes the top spot, potentially earning £4,129.02 per sponsored post. Born in Bolton, Manchester, Paddy is best known for hosting popular dating game show Take Me Out from 2010-2019.
Paddy became a firm favourite on our screens, which led to job offers presenting game shows such as Catchpoint, Benchmark, Take Me Out, I Can See Your Voice, Question of Sport and Amazing Greys.
He made his first television appearance in 1995 as a contestant on TV show God’s Gift, presented by #3 on the list, Davina McCall.
The TV star is making a fortune thanks to his Instagram following of 2 million, where Paddy can expect to earn an average of £4,129.02 per sponsored Instagram post. This would mean that Paddy would need to post thirty one sponsored posts to cover the cost of his new Porsche Taycan Turbo – priced at £125,000.
Paddy’s popularity with viewers led to additional TV opportunities where he now co-presents the fan favourite, Top Gear, alongside Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris, which contributed to his increase in influence.
Keith Lemon, real name Leigh Francis, is the second most influential UK game show host, with an Instagram following of 1.8 million which comes mostly from his hit ITV game shows Celebrity Juice and Through the Keyhole.
As one of the top game show hosts in the country, Leigh can make an average of £3,688.73 per sponsored Instagram post. Born in Leeds, Keith started his television career after being discovered by #3 on the list, Davina McCall, while he was performing stand-up comedy. Now, Keith Lemon still presents on our screens today where he hosts Celebrity Juice, with season 26 now airing on ITV2.
Davina McCall, born in Wimbledon, is the third most influential UK game show host and only female presenter in the top ten.
With an Instagram following of 1.5 million, Davina can expect to make an average of £3,086.50 per sponsored post. Her television career began in 1992 presenting on MTV, which eventually led to her first game show hosting gig for God’s Gift in 1996. Since then, Davina went on to host a number of game shows such as The Million Pound Drop, The Vault, Don’t Try This at Home, Prickly Heat, Five Minutes to a Fortune, Oblivious, and One Hundred and Eighty.
Davina is also well-known for her 10 year stint presenting Big Brother, celebrity fitness DVDs and more recently for her appearance as guest judge on The Masked Singer UK, all contributing to her overall popularity and influence.
The fourth most influential UK game show host is Bradley Walsh. Bradley has a total Instagram following of 915,000 and can potentially earn an average of £2,800.63 per sponsored post. With an engagement rate of 2.92%, he has the highest level of user engagement out of the top ten.
Born and raised in Watford, London, Bradley started as a professional football player for Brentford, before ankle injuries led to the end of his early career. Following this, he worked at Pontins as a bluecoat before being recruited by ITV to present his first game show, Midas Touch in 1997.
Most known for hosting viewer’s favourite The Chase, winner of Most Popular Daytime Programme at the National Television Awards three times, and Beat the Chasers. Bradley has also hosted a number of other game shows such as Take Off with Bradley & Holly, Blankety Blank, Cash Trapped, Keep It in the Family, No. 1 Soap Fan, Odd One In and Spin Star.
At number five is Bolton-born Vernon Kay. With 715,000 Instagram followers, he can earn a potential average of £2,183.56 per sponsored post.
Presenter of the iconic game show All Star Family Fortunes, Kay has a list of presenter credits on other game shows such as Beat the Star, Game of Talents, Hit Me Baby One More Time, Million Dollar Mind Game, Boys and Girls, Beat the Star, The Whole 19 Yards and 1000 Heartbeats. Vernon is also known for his career as a radio presenter, his appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and his marriage to presenter and model Tess Daly.
Magician and former children’s TV presenter Stephen Mulhern ranks at number six. Stephen has 628,000 Instagram followers which can net him a potential £1,904.62 on average per sponsored post.
As the youngest member of the Magic Circle, Mulhern made his first TV appearance as a child on Blue Peter. Before becoming host of the long-running game show favourite Catchphrase, Mulhern had established a successful career in children’s TV. Stephen has also been the host for past game shows In for a Penny, Rolling In It, Catchphrase, Big Star’s Little Star, Reality Bites, Globo Loco, Magic Numbers and Pick Me!
Ben Shepherd is the seventh most influential host and earns an estimated £1,531.92 per sponsored post based on his half a million Instagram followers. Ben is known for presenting game show favourites Tipping Point, The Krypton Factor, Ninja Warrior UK, 1 vs 100 as well as Safebreakers and Who Dares Sings!Tipping Point is on weekdays at 4pm on ITV and is celebrating its-10 year anniversary.
The eighth most influential game show host is Jason Manford. With 359,000 Instagram followers, Jason can earn a potential £1,096.20 per sponsored post. Born in Salford, he started his career as a radio presenter in Manchester before becoming team captain on 8 Out of Ten Cats. As well as performing stand-up comedy and acting, Manford is known for presenting game shows such as Unbeatable and What Would Your Kid Do?Bigheads, The Complaints Department and First & Last.
This number is likely to increase as he is expected to return as a panel judge alongside Sheridan Smith, Beverly Knight and Adam Lambert on new ITV show Starstruck, which has just been renewed for season two after season one received hit ratings with 4.3m at its debut.
Nick Knowles, at number nine, has 320,000 Instagram followers and can earn an estimated £980.55 per sponsored post. Nick first came to attention as host of DIY SOS which he has been presenting for 23 years, and is now known mostly for hosting BBC game shows such as Break the Safe, 5-Star Family Reunion, Guesstimation, Judgemental, Perfection and Who Dares Wins.
Last year Nick, who lives in Cirencester, was replaced by comedian Rhod Gilbert on a Children In Need special of DIY SOS when he breached BBC rules when he appeared as a builder in an advert for Shreddies.
Rounding off the list at number ten is Shane Richie.
With 251,000 Instagram followers, Shane can now potentially earn £767.30 per sponsored post. Known for his portrayal of Alfie Moon in EastEnders, Shane has become known for presenting game shows such as Win Your Wish List, Run the Risk, Reflex, Lucky Numbers, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Decimate and Win, Lose or Draw.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from SolitaireBliss said: “The UK has always been obsessed with game shows and as a nation it has produced some TV classics. These hosts are a familiar face that we welcome into our homes every night, so it is no surprise how influential they become. Where we once had a generation of game show stars such as Cilla Black and Bruce Forsyth, we have a new era of hosts that can reach us at any time thanks to their social media presence.”
The analysis was conducted by SolitaireBliss which aims to give users free access to all their favourite card and board games online.
Other TV presenters such as Philip Schofield, Rylan and Ant & Dec are all influential, but are more known for shows such as This Morning and Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and so were omitted from the list.
The Instagram earnings of the top ten UK game show hosts
How much can the Strictly Come Dancing professionals earn from social media – and who is making the most?
Dianne Buswell is the most influential professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, potentially earning £3,355 per sponsored post on Instagram
Gorka Marquez is the second most influential professional dancer
Last year’s winner and The Masked Dancer UK judge, Oti Mabuse, is the third most influential professional
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing is right around the corner and new analysis has revealed that Dianne Buswell is the most influential dancer on the show.
Analysis conducted by beauty comparison site, Cosmetify.com, analysed Instagram profiles of the professional dancers and marketing calculators to determine how influential this year’s cast of dancers are on social media.
Dianne Buswell is quickstepping her way to a fortune thanks to her Instagram following of 842,715. The professional dancer can expect to earn an average of £3,355 per sponsored Instagram post.
This would mean that Dianne would need to post only 15 sponsored posts to make the equivalent of her Strictly Come Dancing salary of £50,000. Her relationship with previous Strictly partner, YouTube star Joe Sugg, is certain to be a contributing factor to her influential social media presence.
Gorka Marquez is revealed as the second most influential Strictly dancer, raking in an average £2,598 per sponsored Instagram post. On top of the £50,000 salary and revenue from solo-projects, Marquez’s influence is incredibly lucrative.
Last years winner and The Masked Dancer UK judge, Oti Mabuse can expect to earn an average of £2,340 per post, making her the third most influential dancer on the show. This comes as a result of of her Instagram following of over half a million followers.
Giovanni Pernice has the fourth largest following out of the Strictly professionals with a total of 476,128 followers. This means that Pernice could charge an average of £1,897 per sponsored post, a number that could increase drastically as a result of his new relationship with influencer Maura Higgins who has over three million followers.
Janette Manrara, who left her role as a professional dancer to take over from Zoe Ball as presenter of It Takes Two, can earn £1,756 per sponsored post based on her following of 441,751. Her husband and fellow professional dancer, Aljaž Škorjanec is the fifth most influential professional dancer, earning £1,852 per sponsored post, giving the couple a combined earning of £3,608 every time they both post sponsored content.
Similarly, the longest running professional, now turned judge, Anton Du Beke, has 245,923 followers on Instagram meaning he can expect to earn £978 per post.
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson from Cosmetify said: “Each episode of Strictly Come Dancing is viewed by millions suggesting that the professionals can expect to gain even more followers on social media, which increases opportunities for the dancers outside of the Strictly season.”
The analysis was conducted by Cosmetify, which brings together thousands of brands and hundreds of retailers on one platform to ensure a simple shopping experience and allow the consumer to compare the prices of their favourite products at a glance.
How much Strictly Come Dancing professionals can earn on Instagram
New research shows how much is needed to live the life of the UK’s average household
One person would need to earn £42,781, while a couple would need to be paid £18,714 each
A UK household would need one person to earn an annual salary of £42,781 to be able to live an average life.
The average household is made up of 2.4 people, and has annual outgoings of £30,571, while also saving £2,160 per year, according to statistics from the ONS.
Research from IVA Advice reveals that a single breadwinner in the household would need to earn £42,781, giving them an after tax income of £32,731 to account for the UK’s average spending and saving.
Despite covering the typical outgoings of a UK household, the salary itself is 37% above the national average.
According a range of job websites, positions paying an average of £42,781 per year include the role of Team Leader in Warwickshire County Council, an environmental engineer in Strood, and a Pharmacy Manager in West Bromwich.
Alternatively, if two people are bringing in a salary, they each need to earn £18,714 a year, which equates to a net wage of £16,366 each. The annual income is 18% below the national average, but two people earning the amount would be able to live the UK’s average lifestyle.
Jobs in which people can make around £18,714 a year include a Forklift Counterbalance Operative, a Production Factory Operative, a JD Sports Fashion Assistant Manager, or a Legal Assistant.
The average UK household budget breaks down to £2,548 a month, with some of the biggest monthly costs including housing, i.e. paying a mortgage or rent, at £309, food and drink at £279 and recreation and culture, such as pet and TV fees costing £205.
The study was conducted by IVA Advice to raise awareness of the importance of keeping track of household finances.
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for IVA Advice said: “These figures show that a person needs to earn a considerable wage for their household to live the UK’s ‘average’ life.
“People often feel under pressure to have the newest and best things, never mind just the ‘average’. So it’s not surprising that people can easily overspend and find themselves in debt trouble very quickly.”
Britain’s highest earners have enjoyed 7.6% real pay rise over last two years
Real wages have remained flat for those on average pay
High earners would be boosted further by Boris Johnson’s £9.6bn tax “giveaway”, says TUC
Pay for the top 1% of earners has increased faster than for any other income group over the past two years, according to new TUC analysis,
The analysis shows that pay for Britain’s highest earners (those earning £63 an hour or more – or £2,300 and above for a full-time week) increased by 7.6% in real terms between 2016 and 2018.
By contrast, real wage growth for the typical worker increased by just 0.1% over the same period.
The TUC warned that the gap between those at the top and average workers would get worse under plans floated by Boris Johnson for tax cuts for higher earners – that would cost the Treasury around £9.6bn a year.
The union body says no serious attempt has been made this decade to rein in excessive pay, with Theresa May rowing back on her promise to put workers on company boards.
Average pay is still worth less in real terms than before the financial crisis, with UK workers suffering the longest pay squeeze since Napoleonic times.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “While millions struggle with Britain’s cost of living crisis, pay for those at top is back in the fast lane.
“We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the richest 1%.
“Boris Johnson’s promised tax giveaway to high earners would only make things worse. The prime minister is focused on helping his wealthy mates and donors – not working people.”
