Child Poverty Action Group welcomes Conservative recognition that poverty is unacceptable but solutions must address the underlying causes

10.11.09

Child Poverty Action Group welcomed David Cameron’s condemnation of poverty as “morally unacceptable” but said that his solutions did not go far enough to address the real causes.

Kate Green Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group said:

"While we agree that no one should lose out when moving into work, protection for all children must be the priority. We welcome commitments to improve some families' incomes, but unfair pay, lack of affordable childcare, unstable jobs and inadequate financial support when parents aren't able to work are the real causes of poverty and must be addressed.

"David Cameron is right to say that all of society has a responsibility to end child poverty and charities have a role to play in alleviating the pain of poverty but only governments can redistribute to the poorest"

Notes for editors

• Child Poverty Action Group’s manifesto, published in March 2009, can be found at: www.cpag.org.uk/manifesto
• For up-to-date background facts and stats on UK poverty, visit: www.cpag.org.uk/povertyfacts/
• CPAG is the leading charity campaigning for the abolition of child poverty in the UK and for a better deal for low-income families and children.
• CPAG is one of over 150 member organisations of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, campaigning for public and political commitment to ensure the goals of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending child poverty by 2020 are met.

For further information please contact:
Joshua Fenton-Glynn
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
jfentonglynn@cpag.org.uk