Children bear brunt of cutbacks, MP says
One-in-six children in the Westcountry live in poverty, with thousands of families struggling, it has been estimated.
A deprivation map published by the Campaign to End Child Poverty reveals 67,500 of the region's 441,100 youngsters – 15 per cent – facing hardship.
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Ben Bradshaw
Figures were revealed as campaigners warned targeting cuts at families would push more families in to the mire and lead to an "economic and a social disaster".
But the Government insists its education and welfare reforms will help "break the cycle" of deprivation.
Former South West minister Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, said: "These figures show child poverty is a rural as much as an urban problem. The last Government made big strides in reducing it by helping parents back into work and using tax credits and child benefit. But that progress has now gone into reverse, as those on modest and low incomes bear the brunt of this Government's policies."
London features heavily among the UK's most deprived areas. In the Bethnal Green and Bow constituency in the east of the capital the child poverty rate is 51 per cent.
Torbay has the highest level of child poverty among local authority areas in the Westcountry. Some 5,900 children, or 22 per cent, live in impoverished conditions. In Plymouth, the rate is 20 per cent, the equivalent of 10,800 children, and Cornwall is at 17 per cent, or 17,940 children.
The Government's headline target for 2020 is to have child poverty rates of 10 per cent or lower. But even in rural areas in the region the rate is well above that threshold.
In West Somerset the rate is 17 per cent, equal to 1,000 children, and 15 per cent in Torridge, or 1,800 children.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies recently warned that a couple with two children will be £1,250 a year worse off by 2015 as families "shoulder the burden of austerity".
An extra 800,000 children could be in poverty by 2020, it has been predicted.
Campaign executive director Alison Garnham said: "Child poverty costs us billions in picking up the pieces of damaged lives and unrealised potential, so it's a false economy if we don't prioritise looking after children today.
"Targeting cuts on families will prove both an economic and a social disaster, with businesses losing billions of pounds of demand and families struggling to keep their kids clothed, fed and warm."
The report used tax credit data and recent unemployment figures to examine the proportion of children living in low income homes.
Children were classed as in poverty if their family's income fell below 60 per cent of the median average income.
A Government spokesman said the ministers remained committed to tackling child poverty.
She said: "The Government has taken practical steps to help families – cutting fuel duty, freezing council tax and cutting income tax for millions. he Chancellor also confirmed working-age benefits will go up by 5.2 per cent in April and increased the child element of the child tax credit in line with inflation."
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by thinbird12
Thursday, January 26 2012, 4:57PM
“I see there's a strategy in play on here now since the changes. Some people seem intent on posting endless trivia in order to ensure more meaningful comments are bumped off the end. Poor show, chaps... It's reduced the value of this site in my view...”
by downingstreet
Tuesday, January 24 2012, 11:56AM
“Ben Bradshaw's New Labour Government widened the rich and poor divide in this country by sticking to Thatcher's low income tax free market policies for 13 years.”
by Charlespk
Sunday, January 15 2012, 9:21PM
“Yes, a friend of mine used to make vast quantities of elderberry wine Max. . It was 'interesting', and it has to be said; quite potent. .
And anyway with the amount of hot air emanating from Ed Miliband and Ed Balls(no pun intended) at the moment, I think any extra CO2 will be of little consequence.
I think Ben Bradshaw has the look of a sixth former who's just found out all the other boys like playing rugby and have hairy chests. . Just staying on topic. :(”
by homerjay
Sunday, January 15 2012, 8:59PM
“Charles, We will have to rekindle the joys of foraging for wine, liquor and beer making although I worry about the CO2 by-product this hobby entails :-)”
by Charlespk
Sunday, January 15 2012, 5:53PM
“Max; each January a sloe gin competition is held Herefordshire.
The winner is crowned the "Grand Master of the Sloes". Had you thought of entering?
Rumour has it the really good stuff can turn even the most placid farmers' wives into crazed Amazons. :) . . It's only a rumour mind!”
by homerjay
Sunday, January 15 2012, 11:09AM
“Charles...Back on the road to serfdom, it makes me want to squander my hard earned, but at least I'm seeing the world. I think the hypocritical New Labourite, Mr Bradshaw, is up there with Bliar in my black book of most distrusted politicians. He was a minister for the dept of health when John Watkinson was sacked etc at the RCHT. If I remember correctly he was on QT slating other mps over expenses despite this (homophobic of course!) article
http://tinyurl.com/ptoous
BTW I'm not a fan of spirits, however we made the sloe gin from your recipe and I tried a wee (medicinal) tot yesterday and it was magnifique despite the fact they were given to us picked before the first frost (so we simulated that in our freezer)”
by Charlespk
Sunday, January 15 2012, 9:03AM
“That's "more and more" difficult. . You see what I mean!!? :(”
by Charlespk
Sunday, January 15 2012, 9:00AM
“@homerjay (Max) Friday, January 13 2012, 8:27PM
As usual Max your comment concentrated, on people's well being and was balanced. . My heart was gladdened by your obvious concern for my well being in particular. . My main concern over many years has been my BBB and the essential benefits of the red grape, however now as I 'listen' to people like Ben Bradshaw I realise I must also start to consider the effect my abstention will be having on the treasury. . Life gets more and difficult the older we get doesn't it. . Decisions, decisions. :(
Best Charles”
by Devon_Farmer
Saturday, January 14 2012, 12:13PM
“I agree karen, mr bradshaws head should be hung in shame with the rest of the labour party.”
by thinbird12
Saturday, January 14 2012, 11:55AM
“Er,just to reiterate an earlier stream, folks -
"The danger is that more of this kind of rhetoric will only lead to another generation being infantilised by the state as welfare parents.."
Although I should perhaps add the following appendage -
"in a desperate attempt to conform to post-war social policy formulas as a means of beating the recession and hanging onto their tenure... however unrealistic and unsustainable this is in real terms..."”