The government's 'Levelling Up' agenda is failing Greater Manchester, a new study says. The Greater Manchester Poverty Action's (GMPA) 'Poverty Monitor' has collected troubling data which shows high levels of poverty in different areas of the city-region, which are likely to get worse.
With the deepening cost of living crisis hitting families pockets' hard as inflation continues to soar and energy bills look set to rise again, more families and children are being pushed into poverty, the monitor says. The research outlines that more than one in four children are living in poverty across the region, with the number of foodbanks and other low income support providers meeting people's basic food needs doubling over the last five years. This is data is from key areas including child poverty, health, fuel and food insecurity, and education.
Fuel poverty is crippling 15 per cent of homes across the region with nearly 200,000 people earning less than the 'Real Living Wage' of £9.90 per hour. And far from 'Levelling Up', Greater Manchester is actually falling behind in a number of areas, according to the report.
