Half a million kids to be lifted out of poverty with Labour's new strategy: 'This is a moral mission'

More than half a million children will be lifted out of poverty by the end of the decade as a result of measures laid out in the child poverty strategy, the government has estimated.

Labour claims it will oversee the biggest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament since records began, with around 550,000 fewer children expected to be in poverty by 2030.

This is mostly because of plans to end of the two-child limit on benefits in April, which was previously announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves in her autumn budget and was widely welcomed by charities and anti-poverty campaigners.

Read more:

• What lessons do Sadiq Khan’s free school meals have for Labour as two-child benefit cap ends?
• ‘Landmark moment’: Rachel Reeves scraps two-child limit to lift 350,000 kids out of poverty
• After growing up in poverty, I know the anger 4.5 million children must feel

Research shows that the end of the two-child limit is the quickest and most cost-effective way to lift children out of hardship, with the government forecasting that it will mean 450,000 fewer children in poverty by 2030.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), said: “We wholeheartedly support the government’s decision to do the right thing and scrap the two-child limit. Much like the expansion of free school meals, it will improve the lives of children up and down the country.”

The child poverty strategy, due to be published in full tomorrow (5 December), will detail further plans to alleviate deprivation among families.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, with their future no longer determined by the circumstances of their birth. Yet too many children are growing up in poverty, held back from getting on in life, and too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals, and the support they need to make ends meet.

“I will not stand by and watch that happen, because the cost of doing nothing is too high for children, for families, and for Britain. This is a moral mission for me. It’s about fairness, opportunity, and unlocking potential. Our strategy isn’t just about reversing the failures of the past, it sets a new course for national renewal, with children’s life chances at its heart.”

The child poverty strategy will include measures to help parents afford baby formula, with stronger guidance around displaying products and allowing customers to use loyalty points and vouchers to pay.

It will also set out support for working families to stop the “unlawful” placement of families in bed and breakfasts beyond the six-week limit. 

The government has confirmed an £8 million investment in Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots in 20 local authorities which have the highest use of B&Bs for families facing homelessness. It will continue the programme for the next three years.

The publication of the child poverty strategy comes after the government has already expanded free school meals to all children in families claiming universal credit, and rolled out free breakfast clubs across the country. 

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Child poverty is a stain on our country. I’ve seen the damage poverty does first hand, and bearing down on it sits at the very core of this government’s mission.

“This strategy, lifting over half a million children out of poverty, represents an historic moment for generations of families now and into the future.

“And whether it’s expanding free school meals, rolling out free breakfast clubs, or revitalising family services, we are determined to give every child the very best start in life.”

From next year, the government will make it easier for new parents on universal credit to return to work by extending eligibility for upfront childcare costs for those returning from parental leave.

Families on universal credit will also be able to get support with childcare costs for all their children.

Pat McFadden, work and pensions secretary, said: “Tackling child poverty is an investment in working families and our country’s future.

“There is a direct link between children in poverty growing up to be adults not in work, education or training – we cannot afford to waste a generation’s potential and talents. 

“Our strategy will deliver support where families need it most, giving every child a good start in life and giving them the opportunity to succeed.”

However, there are currently more than 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK. That’s one in three children – around 10 in every classroom.

That means that there will still be nearly four million children facing poverty by the end of this parliament, when the government will face a general election, unless further action is taken.

Garnham, of CPAG, said: “With record high levels of child poverty in the UK, we welcome the government’s recognition that publication of the strategy is only the first step. There is much to do and we must now build on this momentum to achieve more tangible change for children.”

Founder of the Big Issue Lord John Bird had urged the government to go further in its child poverty strategy by introducing legal targets to hold itself accountable on pulling children out of hardship.

Bird said: “This strategy is a disappointing continuation of the old Westminster folly of trying to drive seismic structural change with small-scale projects and initiatives.

“Governments love nothing more than to present a new-broom-like attitude, only for that new broom to become a sweeper of problems under the carpet.

“I hope these projects and initiatives will be different – and I wholeheartedly commend Labour’s choice to lift the punitive two-child benefit cap and reverse the wrongs of their predecessors – but we desperately need politicians to evolve their thinking. Until we unite all government’s energies and resources to truly prevent and cure poverty, I fear the same old predictable failure to address these issues.

“The absence of ambitious targets to propel forward this government’s mission to reduce child poverty is deeply concerning. In this challenging economic climate, there is every reason to worry warm words will not translate into tangible progress.”

Big Issue will continue its calls for child poverty targets, with Bird retabling an amendment to the children’s wellbeing and schools bill in the new year.

He added: “Surely there is no greater threat to a child’s wellbeing than poverty. Any legislation that overlooks this fact is not worth its salt.”

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