Latest news with #EndChildPovertyCoalition
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
TfL blocks Save the Children advert calling for end to two-child benefit limit
Transport for London (TfL) has banned adverts from the charity Save The Children calling for the two-child limit on universal credit and child tax credit to be scrapped, deeming them in breach of its bar on 'political' advertising. The adverts, designed to look like a train departure board, carry the message: 'By the time you get to work another child in the UK will be dragged into poverty.' They were due to run in Westminster underground station to coincide with the government's comprehensive spending review due on 11 June. After the adverts were initially rejected, the charity changed a strap line from 'time for the UK government to scrap the two-child limit' to 'it's time to scrap the two-child limit,' but this was also rejected by the transport body. The two-child limit, introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, means parents are unable to receive universal credit or child tax credit for more than two children. Analysis by the End Child Poverty Coalition has shown that the cap is a 'key driver of child poverty' in the UK, and the Child Poverty Action Group found that scrapping the cap would lift 350,000 children out of poverty. According to Save The Children, an average of 109 children a day are pulled into poverty by the limit – equivalent to one every 13 minutes. Save The Children was told the adverts had been rejected for falling foul of TfL's ban on party political advertising. However, adverts by the housing charity Shelter, urging the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to invest in social housing, were accepted and ran earlier this spring. Meghan Meek-O'Connor, policy lead on child poverty at Save the Children UK, said: 'It is deeply disappointing that telling the truth about child poverty in this country should be seen as controversial or indeed political. 'We understand TfL have a difficult line to tread when approving or rejecting advertising on the underground. But in our eyes this advert is far less controversial than other adverts it has approved.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'We won't stop raising our voice to ensure that every child has the support they need to develop to their full potential,' she added. 'It shouldn't be controversial to tell the public that the two-child limit keeps children in poverty, and the situation is getting worse.' Last week TfL reversed a ban on adverts from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) charity, after an intervention from the London mayor, Sadiq Khan. The posters called on people to lobby their MP to vote in favour of decriminalisation of abortion, and were initially rejected for bringing the Metropolitan police into disrepute. TfL has been approached for comment.
Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Calls to scrap two-child benefit cap over child poverty link
At least one in four children is in poverty in two-thirds of the UK's constituencies, the annual analysis from Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition found. 'Bold action' is needed, the campaign said ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review this month, as they called for the cap to be scrapped as soon as possible. The policy means parents only receive support for up to two children through the universal credit system. Analysis of the child poverty rate and the proportion of children affected by the two-child limit found that the two are 'extremely highly correlated', adding to evidence that the cap is a 'major driver of child poverty across the UK'. In the North East, West Midlands and Wales, around nine out of 10 constituencies were found to have a child poverty rate higher than one in four. Birmingham Ladywood, Dewsbury and Batley and Bradford West were among those with the highest rates. Sir Keir Starmer and the Chancellor are under pressure to respond to mounting calls for the two-child benefit cap to be axed at a cost of around £3.5 billion. Ministers have reportedly been considering scrapping it as part of their child poverty strategy, which was due to be published in the spring but is now set to come out in the autumn so it can be aligned with the Chancellor's budget. Dan Paskins, vice-chairman of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said the data presents a 'bleak picture of life' for the UK's children. 'A record number are now in poverty and this is under the noses of our MPs, particularly Cabinet members. 80% of Keir Starmer's Cabinet represent constituencies with higher-than-average child poverty rates. 'The time for action is now, and the Comprehensive Spending Review and forthcoming child poverty strategy should involve bold action. 'Due to the analysis's finding (of) a strong correlation between child poverty rates in local areas and the number of children impacted by the two-child limit to universal credit, it is essential this policy is scrapped as soon as possible.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government is determined to bring down child poverty. 'We've already expanded free breakfast clubs, introduced a cap on the cost of school uniforms, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits in April and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions. 'We will publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully-funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country.'
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Welsh constituencies with highest levels of child poverty
The study by Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition reveals that 36 per cent of children in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, and 35 per cent of children in Newport East are living in poverty after housing costs are considered. The new data show the constituencies with the highest levels of child poverty in Wales as Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, followed by Rhondda and Ogmore, and Newport East. The list also includes Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare, Aberafan Maesteg, and Clwyd North, Cardiff South and Penarth and Swansea West all of which have a 34 per cent of children living in poverty. Elsewhere, figures show that 33 per cent of children Ceredigion Preseli and Mid and South Pembrokeshire live in poverty. The research also highlights that 31 per cent of all children in Wales are living in poverty. Only two of the 35 Welsh parliamentary constituencies have fewer than 25 per cent of children living in poverty. Nationally, child poverty affects every community in Wales. This can mean children lacking food, warm clothing, and living in unsafe housing. The End Child Poverty Coalition, representing over 135 UK organisations, has raised concerns and called upon the government to address these figures. Rachel Walters, the End Child Poverty Coalition manager, said: "No child in the Wales or beyond should have to experience poverty. "These figures should demonstrate to government just how important it is to quickly address this so to prevent another generation of children from growing up in low-income families. "The government's strategy to tackle child poverty must invest in children in areas with higher levels of poverty. "As a first step the government must scrap the two-child limit to benefit payments, a policy which continues to pull children into poverty every day." The research identifies a correlation between the two-child limit and child poverty across Wales. It also emphasises the potential for devolved policy measures to lower child poverty rates. The introduction of the Scottish Child Payment has reportedly reduced poverty levels in Scotland. Dr Steffan Evans, head of policy (poverty) at the Bevan Foundation, said: "Whilst many of the key levers to tackle child poverty still remain at Westminster, this latest analysis highlights just how important a role the Welsh Government has to play in support children and their families. "The Welsh Government have taken many welcome steps over recent years to address child poverty such as the introduction of universal free school meals in primary schools and in updating the education maintenance allowance to make sure it's fit for purpose. "The latest analysis highlights that there is a need for all political parties to be bolder in their commitments to end child poverty as attention turns to the Senedd election next year."
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Calls to scrap two-child benefit cap over child poverty link
At least one in four children is in poverty in two-thirds of the UK's constituencies, the annual analysis from Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition found. 'Bold action' is needed, the campaign said ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review this month, as they called for the cap to be scrapped as soon as possible. The policy means parents only receive support for up to two children through the universal credit system. Analysis of the child poverty rate and the proportion of children affected by the two-child limit found that the two are 'extremely highly correlated', adding to evidence that the cap is a 'major driver of child poverty across the UK'. In the North East, West Midlands and Wales, around nine out of 10 constituencies were found to have a child poverty rate higher than one in four. Birmingham Ladywood, Dewsbury and Batley and Bradford West were among those with the highest rates. Sir Keir Starmer and the Chancellor are under pressure to respond to mounting calls for the two-child benefit cap to be axed at a cost of around £3.5 billion. Ministers have reportedly been considering scrapping it as part of their child poverty strategy, which was due to be published in the spring but is now set to come out in the autumn so it can be aligned with the Chancellor's budget. Dan Paskins, vice-chairman of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said the data presents a 'bleak picture of life' for the UK's children. 'A record number are now in poverty and this is under the noses of our MPs, particularly Cabinet members. 80% of Keir Starmer's Cabinet represent constituencies with higher-than-average child poverty rates. 'The time for action is now, and the Comprehensive Spending Review and forthcoming child poverty strategy should involve bold action. 'Due to the analysis's finding (of) a strong correlation between child poverty rates in local areas and the number of children impacted by the two-child limit to universal credit, it is essential this policy is scrapped as soon as possible.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government is determined to bring down child poverty. 'We've already expanded free breakfast clubs, introduced a cap on the cost of school uniforms, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits in April and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions. 'We will publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully-funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country.'
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Calls to scrap two-child benefit cap over child poverty link
At least one in four children is in poverty in two-thirds of the UK's constituencies, the annual analysis from Loughborough University for the End Child Poverty Coalition found. 'Bold action' is needed, the campaign said ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spending review this month, as they called for the cap to be scrapped as soon as possible. The policy means parents only receive support for up to two children through the universal credit system. Analysis of the child poverty rate and the proportion of children affected by the two-child limit found that the two are 'extremely highly correlated', adding to evidence that the cap is a 'major driver of child poverty across the UK'. In the North East, West Midlands and Wales, around nine out of 10 constituencies were found to have a child poverty rate higher than one in four. Birmingham Ladywood, Dewsbury and Batley and Bradford West were among those with the highest rates. Sir Keir Starmer and the Chancellor are under pressure to respond to mounting calls for the two-child benefit cap to be axed at a cost of around £3.5 billion. Ministers have reportedly been considering scrapping it as part of their child poverty strategy, which was due to be published in the spring but is now set to come out in the autumn so it can be aligned with the Chancellor's budget. Dan Paskins, vice-chairman of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said the data presents a 'bleak picture of life' for the UK's children. 'A record number are now in poverty and this is under the noses of our MPs, particularly Cabinet members. 80% of Keir Starmer's Cabinet represent constituencies with higher-than-average child poverty rates. 'The time for action is now, and the Comprehensive Spending Review and forthcoming child poverty strategy should involve bold action. 'Due to the analysis's finding (of) a strong correlation between child poverty rates in local areas and the number of children impacted by the two-child limit to universal credit, it is essential this policy is scrapped as soon as possible.' A Government spokesperson said: 'This Government is determined to bring down child poverty. 'We've already expanded free breakfast clubs, introduced a cap on the cost of school uniforms, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits in April and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions. 'We will publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure we deliver fully-funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country.'
