Cameron needs substance to back party calls to address relative poverty

Responding to comments by Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, David Ruffley MP, on work by the party’s Social Justice Policy Commission, CPAG’s Chief Executive, Kate Green, said:

“Conservative spokesman David Ruffley’s statement that ‘poverty certainly is relative’ will, we hope, be a turning point for a party that has previously failed to recognise the damage caused by relative poverty, not just for the poorest but for the whole of society. David Cameron and the party’s Social Justice Policy Commission must follow this with firm policy for their stated aspiration to address the poverty and inequality that leaves 3.4 million children in poverty.

“Social enterprise and support into work have important roles to play, but they are not enough. For child poverty to be ended, benefit levels and low pay have to be improved as well. This was a key recommendation of the Harker report, which politicians of all parties must back if their claims on addressing poverty are to be taken seriously. David Cameron should make this commitment in his Scarman lecture on poverty later this week.”

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