Budget 2010: Budget fails to address child poverty, say campaigners

Campaigners have accused the Chancellor of failing to take “purposeful” action to end child poverty following the Budget announced today.

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) said every Budget for the next decade will need to promise more for families if the target of ending child poverty by 2020 is to be met.

Imran Hussain, CPAG’s head of policy, said: “The investment in Child Tax Credits from 2012 of £4 a week for families with infants is welcome but is essentially a tip toe rather than the purposeful stride needed to end child poverty by 2020. 

“Shamefully, the government is no closer to hitting its own target to halve child poverty by 2010 today than it was yesterday.”

Sam Hyde, director of the End Child Poverty campaign group of which CPAG is a member, also expressed disappointment at the announcements today.

She said: “It’s a missed opportunity to improve the lives of thousands of children, who will today be growing up with a poorer future.

“The children of today are the workers who will pay off the national debt tomorrow and we cannot afford to see their life chances slip away.

“We’ve seen government find money for what it thinks are priorities and we are disappointed that it doesn’t consider important its commitments to the Child Poverty Bill, which will gain Royal Assent this week.”