Rise in child poverty since Labour came to power
Rise in child poverty since Labour came to power
Monday, 11, Aug 2008 12:00
The number of children from working families living in poverty has increased by ten per cent since 1997, when Labour came to power.
The majority of children living in poverty are now in homes where at least one person is working, for the first time in 11 years.
The ten per cent increase relates to 200,000 more children and will embarrass a government which put a great deal of emphasis on child poverty.
Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson Jenny Willotts said: "Everyone agrees that no child should go without, but why has the Labour government done nothing to change a system which keeps working families on the breadline?
"The tax system is totally unfair. Hardworking families on low incomes should be paying less tax and keeping more of their hard-earned cash."