New PM and Chancellor failing trust test on promise to end child poverty

Commenting on today’s Comprehensive Spending Review and Pre-budget report, Child Poverty Action Group’s Chief Executive, Kate Green, said:

“Today’s announcement is a bitter disappointment for the 3.8 million British children below the poverty line. The new Prime Minister and Chancellor have tossed just 50p a week more to their families. It is a derisory amount, calling into question the Prime Minister’s commitment to his promise to end child poverty.

“There is welcome news for those poor families reliant on Child Maintenance with increases in the disregard to allow them to keep more of their money. But for the majority of poor families there is nothing to celebrate today.

“To reach the 2010 target to halve child poverty a further 900,000 children must be lifted above the poverty line. Increased investment of nearly £4 billion will ensure this. It is an affordable amount for a government that can make a priority of cutting inheritance tax.”

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. 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk