Joseph Rowntree Foundation warns one in three children will still be in poverty in England by the end of the decade – even with high economic growth – unless there is targeted support
Keir Starmer is under fresh pressure to axe the two-child benefit limit as a new report lays bare “shameful” levels of child poverty.
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation there are a staggering 14.3million people, including 4.3million kids, are currently living in poverty across the UK.
But it warns one in three children will still be in poverty in England by the end of the decade – even with high economic growth – unless there is targeted support.
The charity says the child poverty outlook across the four nations “is shameful”. Only Scotland, which has vowed to mitigate the impact of the controversial two-child benefit limit from 2026, shows some improvement, the report adds.
In a key demand, the JRF adds: “The UK government’s child poverty strategy must abolish the two-child limit and introduce a protected minimum amount to support Universal Credit.”
Last year Keir Starmer established the child poverty task force as he faced his first Commons rebellion as PM over the two-child benefit limit, which is blamed for trapping kids in poverty. The policy, introduced by the Tory austerity Chancellor George Osborne, restricts parents from claiming Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits for any kids beyond their first two.
The government, which has vowed to tackle the “scourge of child poverty”, has said the two-child benefit limit will be examined as part of the taskforce. Ministers are expected to report back with the findings in the spring.
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Paul Kissack, JRF chief executive, said for the strategy to be “credible” it must include policies that “rebuild the tattered social security system”. He said: “Growing levels of poverty and insecurity are acting as a tightening brake on growth and opportunity.
“We can’t expect children to be ready for school or able to learn if they’re going without the basics. Growing up in poverty can also lead to poor health, increasing pressure on the NHS.
He added: “Child poverty will only be driven down through focused, deliberate and determined policy action. Even very strong economic growth won’t automatically change the picture.”
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak also said: “Better work is crucial for ending child poverty, but decent social security matters too. The government must remove the two-child benefit cap which is keeping too many children in working households in poverty.”
A government spokesman said: “No child should be in poverty – that’s why our ministerial taskforce is exploring all levers available across government to give children across the United Kingdom the best start in life, while our Plan for Change will raise living standards across the country.
“As we fix the foundations of the economy, we’re increasing the Living Wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families with children by introducing a fair repayment rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income families and make everyone better off.”
