Shocking new figures show a quarter of children in Erith and Thamesmead living in poverty

Teresa has criticised the Government after new figures released by the End Child Poverty campaign revealed that a quarter of children in Erith and Thamesmead are living in poverty. This was higher than the national estimate of child poverty at 20.2%.

The figures also revealed disparities in poverty rates within Erith and Thamesmead, with 29% of children in Abbey Wood living in poverty, compared to Northumberland Health where the figure was 13%.

Teresa said the figures revealed the extent to which the Government is failing the most vulnerable families in society and called on Ministers to reconsider their policies that are contributing to higher child poverty rates.

 Teresa said:

“I am horrified that a quarter of children in my constituency are living in poverty. Tragically things are likely to get worse rather than better under this Government, with welfare and benefit cuts only starting to hit many families that are already struggling to survive.

 

“The Government must go back to its child poverty strategy and do more to make sure children’s lives are not blighted by hunger and the fact that many parents are unable to afford basic necessities like clothes and school equipment.

 

“The Government needs to tackle low pay and commit to a living wage, stop dismantling the safety net that families need in times of crisis, and scrap disastrous policies like the ‘bedroom tax’ due in April that will only increase child poverty further.” 

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