Just one in five think the government is tackling child poverty

Fewer than one in five people think the government is doing all it reasonably can to tackle child poverty, according to a new survey.

The survey by the End Child Poverty coalition of charities and campaigners reveals that the majority of the public (55%) believe the government must still do more to tackle child poverty, including around one in three (30%) Conservative voters.

Just 19% of those surveyed think the government is doing all it reasonably can on child poverty.

The End Child Poverty coalition is encouraging people across the UK to book meetings in with their MP between the 8-15 February to urge their local representative to do more to give children the childhood they deserve.

The coalition has also called on the government to make the £20 a week uplift to Universal Credit permanent.

Last week, a report by the Trussell Trust warned the number of people using food banks could soar if the uplift is removed in April.

The latest figures (2018-19) show 4.2 million children were in relative poverty, which is 600,000 more than in 2011/12.

The figures for 2019-20 are due to be published soon. Projections from the Resolution Foundation show that from this year – 2020-21 – to the end of the parliament, around 730,000 more children will be living in poverty (this follows a projected fall by 290,000 from 2019-20 to 2020-21).

‘This is a bit of a vote of no confidence in levelling up so far,’ said the chair of the End Child Poverty coalition and chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau, Anna Feuchtwang.

‘Ministers should be worried why so few people believe the government is doing what it should be doing on child poverty. We know what a good childhood looks like. It’s one in which children have enough to eat, somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep, with the chance to fully participate in society and pursue the things they love. And yet we know that for many children poverty holds them back, creating shame, stigma and ruining their life chances.’