Thread by @ContextNewsroom

🇬🇧 The UK Government will raise National Insurance taxes to its highest level since WWII.

💰 PM Boris Johnson said the reforms will help tackle a growing health and social care crisis.

⭕️ But critics say the hike is unfair for Black, Asian and low income workers. Here's why.🧵

1️⃣ Unequal wealth distribution puts ethnic minorities at a disadvantage

⭕️ The @RunnymedeTrust says for every £1 of white British wealth:

💸 Pakistani households have 50p
💸 Black Caribbean households have 20p
💸 Black African and Bangladeshi households only have 10p

2️⃣ Low earners will be taxed more

📈 For people earning less than about £50,000 per year, employers deduct 12% in National Insurance contributions.

📉 But for those earning more, contribution drops to 2%.

3️⃣ BME women will be disproportionately affected

📜 They are almost twice as likely to be on zero-hours contracts, according to @raceontheagenda and @The_TUC.

🚫 People employed on these terms also have no guaranteed working hours - which can mean fluctuating incomes.

4️⃣ Young BME people will be hit the hardest

📈 They are more heavily represented in the workforce - so the tax increase would affect them the most.

🔴 13% of white people in Britain were aged over 70 in 2011. This falls to just 3.9% of Asian and 4.5% of Black people.

💰 The costs of Britain’s social care system are projected to double as the population ages over the next two decades.

🤔 Read why Britain's social care insurance hike is unfair to ethnic minorities and those earning less money 👇
news.trust.org/item/202109071…