Response to launch of the Centre for Social Justice

Local problems may have national solutions
28.06.04

…’and usually have national causes’ claim national charity……

Leading anti-poverty children’s charity the Child Poverty Action Group has today given a guarded welcome to the launch of Iain Duncan Smith's Centre for Social Justice (CSJ).

Commenting on the launch of the Conservative Party’s previous leader's "think tank", Dr Paul Dornan of CPAG said,

'We welcome today’s launch of CSJ which we hope will be an opportunity for further discussion and action on the issues of social justice and child poverty within the Conservative Party.

'It is encouraging to hear Iain Duncan Smith talking about the importance of the Conservative Party making a commitment to social justice. They do have a track record of ignoring these issues – including the rise of child poverty after the 1980s – which we hope will now be addressed.'

Commenting on the approach of the CSJ to addressing poverty, Dr Dornan continued,

'It is important that the CSJ do not see the answer to ending poverty as a "one size fits all" approach. Local problems often have national causes and may have national solutions. It is wrong to say that the current government has done little to help children in poverty. There has been real increase in financial support for those on low incomes but real problems remain. We hope the CSJ will identify these.'

 

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