Every two years the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes a ‘Wealth and Assets Survey’ of UK households.

The latest version of the survey, published yesterday, proves that the richest people in the country didn’t pay any price from the last decade of austerity.

According to the figures, the wealthiest households (those who make up the top 10 per cent) own five times more than the bottom 50 per cent.

Viewed another way, those at the top now own 45 per cent of the total wealth of the country, while the bottom 50 per cent of households own just 9 per cent.

Working families have struggled to make ends meet since the 2008/10 survey due to the longest pay squeeze in two centuries and the impact of austerity on their earnings.

But those at the top haven’t had to worry. Their wealth has grown by a whopping £2.6 trillion over the same period – three times as fast as those in the bottom 10 per cent.

Despite all the pain of the last decade, the richest have continued to increase their wealth.

What clearer evidence that the economy is rigged against working people?

At this election, we need a government that will put working families first. That means tackling this inequality and making the country a fairer place for everyone.

What is the Wealth and Assets Survey?

It’s important to understand how unequal our society is if we’re to try and make it fairer.

The Wealth and Assets Survey (WAS), which started in 2006, is a good place to start.

It assesses total private household wealth, including property, private pensions, financial wealth and physical wealth.

You can find out you can find out more about the components of wealth and assets here.

What’s in this year’s survey?

The new WAS shows why the economy just isn’t working for working people.

The chart below shows why.

When the 2008/10 survey was published, the top 10 per cent of households owned 4.4 times as much as the bottom 50.

Today they own over five times (5.3) as much, despite the 2008 global financial crisis and the decade of austerity that followed it.

As the chart shows, this is the highest wealth inequality on record.