Expert group launches manifesto on 10th anniversary of child poverty pledge

Child Poverty Action Group is today publishing their new manifesto, Ending Child Poverty: a manifesto for success.

The publication takes place on the 10th anniversary of the Government’s pledge to eradicate child poverty in a generation.

Kate Green, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said:

“We can end child poverty in the UK. Other wealthy countries do much better and there is no reason why Britain alone should continue to fail so many of our children. Our manifesto shows how we can succeed.

“We live in a deeply unequal society, which damages children most of all. An immoral economy, where greed was justified by the tyranny of markets, lies behind both our current economic crisis and Britain’s child poverty shame. The economy we rebuild must be led by values, not markets.

“There are 600,000 fewer children in poverty than ten years ago, which is good news, but we must go further and faster. A change to our political culture that puts family security and children’s wellbeing at the heart of all policy is needed.

“Immediate steps are needed to help struggling families and put children first. Government must urgently protect jobs, review a welfare reform policy on the verge of collapse and channel a major fiscal stimulus through poor families.

“When struggling families get extra help, they immediately spend on the things their children need in their local businesses. By investing at least £3 billion in benefits and tax credit, not only can Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling keep their promise to halve child poverty by 2010, but they will boost the grassroots of the economy.”

 

Notes for editors

• CPAG’s ‘Ending Child Poverty: a manifesto for success’ will be published on18th March.
• Download Ending Child Poverty: a manifesto for success (248 KB pdf file, 55 pages)
• The summary and introduction to the manifesto include ten key steps needed to end child poverty and ten reasons to be angry about how children become trapped in poverty today.
• There will be a launch reception at 6pm at One Great George Street at which the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, will speak. Members of the media should contact CPAG’s press officer if they wish to attend.
• On 18th March 1999, former Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a speech at Toynbee Hall: "Our historic aim will be for ours to be the first generation to end child poverty. It will take a generation. It is a 20-year mission, but I believe it can be done."
• For up-to-date background facts and stats on UK child poverty and the Government’s targets, visit: http://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:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
tnichols@cpag.org.uk