Norfolk charity: 'local anti-poverty strategies' needed in devolution plan
Sir Keir Starmer's under pressure to scrap the two-child benefit cap, cited as a major driver of this poverty by a new national study
A Norfolk charity leader is calling for a 'local anti-poverty' strategies to be put together- as part of upcoming devolution plans.
At least a quarter of children are in poverty in two-thirds of the UK's constituencies- according to the End Child Poverty Coalition.
"It can have an impact twenty years down the line
David Powles is from Norfolk Community Law Service:
"If you are caught in the 'poverty trap' it is hard to pull yourself out of it.
"It can have an impact twenty years down the line if you don't get the grades that you're capable of, for example"
"It will impact on your life chances and then possibly the life chances of your children and their children"
He told us why change is needed:
"What we're seeing a lot from the Government at the moment is a lot of instant impact cuts that are going to save money, but are going to probably worsen poverty in the long run.
"We really need to see more measures that are going to encourage more people into work.
The research in more detail:
There is a "strong correlation" between the two-child benefit cap and child poverty, a study has found, as the Prime Minister faces increasing pressure to scrap the limit.
The campaign called for "bold action" at Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review on June 11 and for the cap to be scrapped as soon as possible.
Analysis of the child poverty rate and the proportion of children affected by the two-child limit found that the two are "extremely highly correlated", adding to evidence that the cap is a "major driver of child poverty across the UK".
The policy means parents only receive support for up to two children through the universal credit system.
In the North East, West Midlands and Wales, around nine out of 10 constituencies were found to have a child poverty rate higher than one in four.
Birmingham Ladywood, Dewsbury and Batley and Bradford West were among those with the highest rates.
The analysis looks at poverty rates after housing costs, whereas UK Government data shows poverty levels before housing costs are calculated.
Sir Keir and the Chancellor are under pressure to respond to mounting calls for the two-child benefit cap to be axed at a cost of around £3.5 billion.
Ministers have reportedly been considering scrapping it as part of their child poverty strategy, which was due to be published in the spring but is now set to come out in the autumn so it can be aligned with the Chancellor's budget.
"The time for action is now"
Dan Paskins, vice-chairman of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said the data presents a "bleak picture of life" for the UK's children.
"A record number are now in poverty and this is under the noses of our MPs, particularly Cabinet members. 80% of Keir Starmer's Cabinet represent constituencies with higher-than-average child poverty rates.
"The time for action is now, and the Comprehensive Spending Review and forthcoming child poverty strategy should involve bold action.
"Due to the analysis's finding (of) a strong correlation between child poverty rates in local areas and the number of children impacted by the two-child limit to universal credit, it is essential this policy is scrapped as soon as possible."
What's the Government said on this?
A Government spokesperson said: "This Government is determined to bring down child poverty.
"We've already expanded free breakfast clubs, introduced a cap on the cost of school uniforms, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits in April and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions.
"We will publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully-funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country."