The next government should pass a new law within 100 days of winning the general election that would commit ministers to eradicating child poverty for good, the five biggest UK children’s charities say this weekend.
The organisations demand legislation in the first king’s speech that would include plans for a “child lock” – equivalent to the current pensions “triple lock”.
This would ensure annual rises in the financial help parents receive from the state, rather than allowing them to rise or fall subject to political decision-making and economic conditions.
The call for action from the NSPCC, Action for Children, Barnardo’s, the National Children’s Bureau and the Children’s Society will put particular pressure on Keir Starmer and Labour to act on child poverty as the parties prepare to announce their election manifestos.
Another key demand from the coalition of charities is the scrapping of the controversial two-child limit on benefits, which they blame for plunging hundreds of thousands of children into poverty.
On Friday, Starmer said Labour wanted to end the policy “in an ideal world” but that they “don’t have the resources at the moment”.
Last weekend, the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, told the Observer that the two-child cap should be ended without delay because it was cruel and immoral.
The charities say a “child lock” would guarantee that child-related benefits are uprated by the rise in average earnings or the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index each year, whichever is higher.
The current pensions triple lock means that state pensions rise by the rate of inflation, average earnings or 2.5% each year – whichever is highest.
Recent figures have shown there are now 4.3 million children living in poverty in the UK – a rise of 100,000 on the previous year. This means that, in an average classroom of 30 children, nine are living in poverty.
The charities have formed a campaign, Children at the Table, which will also argue for better mental health support for young people, more investment in children’s social care and an increased focus on early years support.
In a joint statement, the CEOs of the five charities said: “Child poverty in the UK means millions of children and young people struggling with hunger and housing needs while also having to deal with psychological factors like shame, social isolation, and parental stress.
“Without support and help from our political leaders the fabric that holds families togethers will continue to erode, leaving more and more children exposed and vulnerable.
“Whoever forms the next UK government needs to wake up to this shocking reality and make tackling child poverty a national priority.
“A strong signal of intent would be a commitment to new legislation in the first king’s speech that sets a series of ambitious targets to reduce and ultimately eradicate child poverty from our communities. This should be coupled with wider reforms, led by whoever is prime minister, that would see the implementation of an ambitious multiyear strategy and outcomes framework involving all relevant government departments designed to transform the lives and futures of babies, children and young people.”
The coalition also wants government to work towards implementing an “essential guarantee” which would ensure people are given enough through the benefits system to ensure they can pay for the most basic necessities including food, heating and clothes.
