Conservative candidates challenged by charity on poverty policy
05.10.05

Candidates for the leadership of the Conservative Party have been challenged by a leading children's charity to say what they would do to tackle poverty.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has written to each of the declared contenders asking them to commit to the target of ending child poverty and to outline what policies they would introduce to achieve this.

Kate Green OBE, Chief Executive of CPAG, said:

"CPAG wants all political parties to pledge to eradicate child poverty. As the winner of the Conservative leadership contest could be a future Prime Minister we would like to see each of the candidates explain what they intend to do to eradicate child poverty in this country.

"While it's true to say that child poverty more than doubled when the Conservatives were last in Government, we must now look to the future. If the Conservative Party is serious about coming back to power they must elect a leader who is serious about tackling child poverty, increasing social justice and extending opportunity to all.

"No political party, least of all the main opposition party, can afford to ignore the stark reality that millions of children in the UK still live below the poverty line."

A copy of CPAG's letter to David Cameron, Kenneth Clarke, David Davis, Liam Fox and Malcolm Rifkind is given below.

For further information please contact:
Alex Belardinelli
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk

Notes:

Letter to Conservative leadership candidates: David Cameron, Kenneth Clarke, David Davis, Liam Fox and Malcolm Rifkind.

As one of the declared contenders for the leadership of the Conservative Party, the Child Poverty Action Group would like you to explain what you intend to do to tackle the issue of child poverty in the UK.

Poverty continues to affects a child's life chances and opportunities. Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, 28 per cent of children (3.5 million) in this country still below the poverty line. CPAG is therefore calling on all political parties to pledge to eradicate child poverty.

If elected, will you commit the Conservative Party to the goal of ending child poverty?

What policies would a future Conservative Government under your leadership introduce in order to help eradicate child poverty?

Which policies of the current Government would you amend or abolish?

For your information I enclose a copy of CPAG's manifesto, 10 Steps to a Society Free of Child Poverty, which may provide some inspiration.

While CPAG realises that in such a short time your policies will not yet have been fully developed, we look forward to hearing your initial thoughts on the questions above. A copy of this letter has been made available to the media.

Yours sincerely,

Kate Green OBE
Chief Executive

CPAG's manifesto 'Ten steps to a society free from child poverty' calls on all political parties to sign up to 10 demands.

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

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.