Child poverty strategy must be revitalised to end the culture of inequality

Commenting on the Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2007 report published today by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the New Policy Institute, the Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“The culture of inequality in Britain has a high cost to individual lives and the whole nation. We cannot afford not to address the educational failure, health costs and social division that poverty brings to our communities.

“The Government’s strategy is keeping a million children out of poverty. But there are still 3.8 million children below the poverty line. Real progress has been made, but without major new policies and new investment to build on this success, progress will not continue. As a Member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, we believe the strategy must be urgently revitalised.

“The first priority must be investment in family incomes to meet the 2010 target of halving child poverty. But to meet the 2020 target of ending child poverty more radical policies are need on fair taxation, fair pay, welfare security and affordable housing. Politicians and the public alike must share a moral purpose to reject the culture of inequality in Britain today.”

Notes for editors

• CPAG is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk