Big Issue founder Lord Bird is mounting a bid to amend the landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill to hold the Government’s feet to the fire over reducing child poverty
Labour is being urged to do more to cut poverty to see off the rise of Nigel Farage as a poll finds two-thirds of Reform supporters want more action.
A YouGov survey for Big Issue found that 72% of Brits think the Government should step up its efforts to lift people out of hardship. The view was shared by supporters of all political parties, including 76% Labour and 68% Reform backers.
Public disapproval has risen by 18% over the last six months as only 54% of Brits felt the government wasn’t doing enough for people in poverty in a similar poll in September.
It comes as Keir Starmer faces the biggest revolt of his premiership over plans to cut disability benefits as MPs reel from Labour’s local elections bruising.
READ MORE: Inside Labour’s benefits rebellion as Keir Starmer faces biggest revolt yet
The £5billion in cuts, proposed in March, would see eligibility tightened for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which help people with the extra costs of living with a disability.
The Government’s own assessment found 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – would be pushed into poverty by the cuts.
Ministers are drawing up a strategy to reduce child poverty, as promised in Labour’s manifesto.
This week, Lord John Bird, the founder of the Big Issue magazine, will seek to force ministers to set targets for the reduction of child poverty.
The crossbench peer will table an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is undergoing scrutiny in the House of Lords.
Lord Bird said: “As the local elections showed, the big question for Labour now is how to stop a mass exodus of its supporters defecting to their rivals.
“That’s no easy task when so many issues divide the British public, but as our poll shows, on one issue they are united – there must be more done for the 14 million people in poverty in this country.
“My amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill would mean all future governments will be held to account on reducing child poverty.
“It would hold this government’s feet to the fire in taking long-term, truly preventative action for the 4.3 million children in this country who currently live in poverty – and signal to the UK public that they are finally taking poverty seriously.”
Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the National Children’s Bureau, said: “Legally-binding targets to reduce child poverty will help turn political rhetoric into actual change in people’s lives.
“Either the government fulfils its manifesto pledge and holds itself accountable for creating a society where all children can thrive, or we risk child poverty continuing to rise over the next four years.”
A Government spokesperson said: “No child should be living in poverty, which is why we have already taken wide-ranging action to break the unfair link between background and opportunity, led by our cross-government child poverty taskforce.
“We know that the best route out of poverty for struggling families is well-paid, secure work, so through our plan for change we are reforming our broken welfare system, so it helps people into good jobs, boosting living standards and putting money in people’s pockets.
“We have also tripled investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, with delivery of free meals and childcare already in 750 schools, increased pupil premium to over £3 billion and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income households.”
:: YouGov surveyed 2,123 adults between April 30 and May 1. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults.
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