Legal Protection Against Destitution in the UK: the Case for a Right to a Subsistence Minimum

In a 2003 Supreme Court judgment, Lord Hoffmann argued that in the absence of guaranteed minimum standard living, many other rights are reduced to ‘a mockery’. Given research findings 2.4 million UK residents experienced destitution 2019, this article considers whether social floor exists law and implications its or weakness for human protection UK. The common law, treaties European Convention on Human Rights can each play role identifying but with variable precision, generosity enforceability – subject sovereign legislature setting own floor, including one may render people destitute. With an analysis case revealing clear weaknesses against destitution, authors argue specific statutory duty is required address failure protection.