Lib Dems’ commitment to end child poverty cements historic cross party consensus

Responding to the commitment made today by Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell, to end child poverty by 2020, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, commented:

“This is excellent news and cause for celebration by all members of the Campaign to End Child Poverty. There is now an unprecedented consensus amongst the main parties to end child poverty by 2020.

“It was vital that all parties accepted this important target so that we can now move the debate on to the policies and resources that must be put in place to meet the target. The priority for all parties should be finding the £4 billion of extra investment that is needed to get back on track for halving child poverty by 2010.

“We are particularly delighted that Sir Menzies is willing to consider the Make Child Benefit Count campaign’s call to increase child benefit for younger children to the level of the first child. This would lift 300,000 more children out of poverty and we hope that all parties will give serious consideration to this proposal.

“With a speech titled ‘Making work pay’, it is a shame that low pay was completely overlooked by the Liberal Democrat leader. With half of children in poverty coming from working families, the Lib Dem’s final proposals must work much harder to address Britain’s dependency on a significant low pay sector of the economy.”

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