Child Poverty Action Group marks forty years of campaigning with challenge to politicians
01.03.05

'The vital steps to end child poverty in the UK are all achievable and must be taken now, on the way to the demolishing the larger mountain of global poverty'
Kate Green

Forty years on from its inaugural meeting in East London, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is this week sending a manifesto of demands to every Member of Parliament challenging them 'to commit now and wholeheartedly to the actions needed to end child poverty'.

The manifesto 'demands action from politicians across the political spectrum,' said CPAG Chief Executive Kate Green.

'We need to see improvements in tax credits, benefits and the minimum wage. It is unacceptable that when Britain is the richest it has ever been, 28 per cent of its children live in poverty, half of them in families with an adult in paid work. Recent improvements have helped but we need much more. For example, there should be an extension of free school meal entitlement and free childcare, and more done to ensure children don’t feel the stigma that comes from not being able to afford school trips and activities.'

As well as issuing its manifesto challenge to politicians, CPAG last night held a reception at No. 11 Downing Street at which campaigners, politicians, academics and policy makers reflected on forty years of fighting child poverty. CPAG President and founding member Professor Peter Townsend and Chancellor Gordon Brown addressed the event.

'CPAG has played a vital role in keeping the struggle to end child poverty alive over the last forty years and we look forward to the end of this scandal long before another forty pass', said Peter Townsend

For further information:
Ashley Riley
Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216
Mobile 07811 324339
Email ariley@cpag.org.uk

• Download a copy of CPAG's manifesto (205 KB pdf file)
  
  
• Download a leaflet summary of CPAG's manifesto (471 KB pdf file)

Notes:

CPAG’s ten steps to a society free of child poverty are:

• All political parties to commit to eradicate child poverty.
• Poverty proof policies – make each consistent with eradicating child poverty.
• Uprate the combined value of child tax credit and child benefit at least in line with the fastest growing of prices or earnings. The element of this that is child benefit ought to be maximised.
• Increase the adult payments within income support in line with those for children.
• Reform the administration of tax credits and benefits – ensure they get the right amount to the right people at the right time.
• Ensure all children have full access to the requirements – meals, uniforms and activities – of their education.
• Provide benefit entitlements to all UK residents equally, irrespective of immigration status.
• Work towards better jobs, not just more jobs.
• Introduce free at the point of delivery, good quality universal childcare.
• Reduce the disproportionate burden of taxation on poorer families.