Labour launches child poverty strategy but hints costly welfare system has to change

Pat McFadden said further changes to the welfare system were important to improve children’s lives. Photograph: Thomas Krych/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

The UK welfare system is not helping enough people into work and has significantly rising costs, and no one should think the government is backing away from reforming it, the work and pensions secretary has said.

Pat McFadden made the comments as the government published its new child poverty strategy on Friday.