In the year leading up to April 2024, an alarming number of 4.5 million children in the UK were living in poverty. This stark statistic comes just as the government reveals plans for benefit cuts, adding to the worries of many. In Blackpool, the charity Disability First reports receiving “terrified phone calls” from those anxious about how recent changes to disability benefits, as outlined in the chancellor’s spring statement, will impact them.
One in three children in the UK is affected by poverty. Single-parent families, those with several children, or households with a disability are often among the hardest hit. For anyone who hasn’t seen it firsthand, the extent of this struggle is almost unimaginable. A survey by the Trades Union Congress found 17% of workers admitted to skipping meals over a three-month period to save money. Beyond food shortages, these families often face challenges related to housing and basic necessities like clothing, toiletries, and furniture. Teachers note children arriving at school tired and burdened by the shame poverty brings, impacting their well-being and learning.
Many had hoped that the two-child benefit limit, introduced by George Osborne, would be scrapped or improved for families with young children ahead of a recent government speech. However, that didn’t happen. The government’s strategy on tackling child poverty isn’t expected until likely around June’s spending review, presenting a daunting starting point for Sir Keir Starmer’s administration.
Some experts were forecasting better news during Rishi Sunak’s final year as Prime Minister, bolstered by cost of living payments. But when viewed alongside Rachel Reeves’s planned £4.8bn cuts to social security, the picture looks grim. The government admits another 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, could fall into poverty by the decade’s end due to these welfare cuts, though some believe this is an underestimate by 100,000.
Ms. Reeves appeared on media rounds, confidently stating a desire to enrich lives, not diminish them, though her remarks felt unconvincing to many. While improvements in job center investments might eventually aid some in returning to work, and a minor increase in universal credit is positive, the chancellor’s choice to prioritize fiscal targets over the needs of the most vulnerable seems misguided. It’s unrealistic to claim these cuts won’t harm the living standards of already struggling families, particularly those with children.
In contrast, Scotland offers a beacon of hope, where child poverty fell to 22% in 2023-24, marking the lowest across the UK’s nations, thanks largely to the introduction of the Scottish child payment. It would be promising to see the UK government adopt this late but vital commitment to shielding young citizens in its future child poverty strategies.
It’s crucial for a shift in approach—a reiteration of the fundamental belief that no child should face hunger, especially in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Those in power, along with determined advocates and campaigners, must gear up for this necessary fight.
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