Campaigners welcome Tory pledge on child poverty
11.04.06

Campaign groups have welcomed the Conservative Party’s commitment to the Government’s target to end child poverty by 2020.

Writing in this morning’s Guardian Oliver Letwin, the Chairman of the Conservative Policy Review, says: “Today, I can confirm that David Cameron’s Conservatives are now committed to the Government’s aspiration of ending child poverty by 2020.”

Kate Green, Chief Executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said:

“We are very pleased that the Conservatives have finally responded to our calls and committed themselves to the Government’s child poverty target. Ending child poverty by 2020 is an ambitious but achievable goal that deserves the support of every major political party.

“Oliver Letwin is right to say that poverty cannot be solved by money alone, but extra support to lift the incomes of the poorest families is essential. If the Conservatives really want to end child poverty, they must also commit themselves to further increases in child benefit and child tax credits, alongside greater investment in things like affordable childcare and decent housing.

“The Conservatives must now develop the right policies to ensure that this aspiration becomes a reality. The voluntary sector has an important role to play, but it’s not a magic wand solution – it cannot solve the problem of poverty without the backing and financial resources of the state.”

Caroline Abrahams, Chair of the End Child Poverty campaign, said: “This is a major step forward in the campaign to end child poverty once and for all. Organisations in the End Child Poverty campaign are determined to work with every political party that is committed to achieving this historic goal.”

Notes to editors

1. For more information please contact CPAG Press Officer Alex Belardinelli on 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302.
   
2. The Child Poverty Action Group is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of poverty among children and young people in the UK and for the improvement of the lives of low-income families.
   
3. End Child Poverty is a coalition of organisations campaigning to ensure that the goal of eradicating child poverty becomes a reality. The comments in this release represent the views of End Child Poverty and do not necessarily reflect the views of member organisations. For more information about End Child Poverty please visit www.ecpc.org.uk

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