215,000 children live in poverty in the South West - up 20% from 2010

The number of South West children growing up in poverty in working households has increased by 35,000 since 2010, according to new TUC analysis published today (Monday).

The analysis – carried out for the TUC by Landman Economics – shows that child poverty in South West working families rose to 215,000 in 2018. That’s an increase of 20% since 2010 when the number stood at 180,000 children.

Government policies account for majority of rise in child poverty

The TUC says that government cuts to in-work benefit cuts have been a key driver behind the increase. Other key factors behind the rise in child poverty are:

• Weak wage growth
• The spread of insecure work
• Population growth

The rise in the number of working families hasn’t been enough to lift families out of poverty

Abolishment of child poverty targets

In 2016 the Conservatives abolished the Child Poverty Act and scrapped targets to reduce poverty.

TUC Regional Secretary of the South West Nigel Costley said:

“No child should be growing up in poverty. Yet many parents are struggling to feed and clothe their kids.

“And in parts of the region, growing up in a poor working household is becoming the norm. That’s not right.

“The Conservatives’ cuts to in-work benefits have come at a terrible human cost. As too has their failure to tackle insecure work and get wages rising across the economy.

“We need a government focused on helping working families, not more tax cuts for wealthy donors and hedge funds.”

To tackle the rise of child poverty, TUC is calling on all political parties to commit to: 

• Raise the minimum wage to £10 an hour
• Stop and scrap Universal Credit
• Ban zero-hours contracts
• Give workers new rights to join unions and bargain for better pay and conditions across industries