No, this isn't Sparta.

I think that people should sit down and ponder over this story for a bit.

There are a few remarkable statistics in there.

The first one is that the top 1% are now richer than the rest of the world combined.

Normally in a functioning economy, you would expect it to be closer to the top 20% owning 80% of the wealth, but the world economy has been turned on its head.

So Mr Iain Duncan Smith has stated on Radio that he can survive on £53 a week. I think he should try it. For a prolonged period of time.

While having to live a week or two or a short period of time on such a figure is doable, especially if you have help and support from family and friends, if it is long term or if you are the breadwinner, it is nothing short of a disaster.

For a responsible person paying their way, living on £53 a week is not enough to live a dignified life.

I'd like him to try living on that amoung without handouts and charity for a meaningful amount of time so that he can see the codswallop that he talks for what it is.