By requiring people to work without pay, the government's workfare schemes are pushing more and more people into poverty and unemployment, says Ekklesia associate Symon Hill. Christian organisations need to campaign against workfare, not participate in it, he argues.

Several Christian charities are facing protests for participating in "workfare" schemes under which unemployed people must work for free or lose their benefits.

The Anglican Bishop of Liverpool is asking the government to review and re-examine the criteria upon which their current public spending cuts are based.

Over 150,000 people have marched in London, Glasgow and Belfast for alternatives to the UK government's cuts agenda.