Child poverty in the United Kingdom has reached a historic high, with approximately 4.5 million children now living in relative poverty, according to a government report released in April. Among them, one million children are experiencing destitution, lacking necessities such as staying warm, dry, clothed, and fed.
A combination of soaring living costs and years of government austerity measures has crippled the social safety net, leading to the current crisis, a CNN analysis found.
The staggering figure means about one in three children across the UK are classified as poor, defined as living in a household with an income below 60% of the median, after accounting for housing costs. Research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) in 2023 detailed the severity for the worst-off million, who go without the most essential provisions.
Even for families earning well above the poverty line, high costs, particularly for housing and childcare in cities like London, can be overwhelming. A JRF researcher noted that these expenses can consume resources so completely that there is nothing left for anything else.
The financial strain is evident in households like that of Jaffe in London. Despite an annual salary of £45,000—significantly higher than the UK average—she relies on assistance from a charity. "After paying for rent, childcare, food, and household bills, I have £192 left for the month for emergencies," Jaffe stated. "I can't save, and I can't do more for my children."
The UK's childcare costs are among the highest in wealthy nations. Data from the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 2022 showed that childcare accounts for about 25% of a couple's net income and a staggering 60% for a single parent. The problem is widespread among working families, with about 70% of children in poverty having at least one working parent, indicating that employment no longer guarantees financial security. The data also revealed stark ethnic disparities, with nearly half of all Black and Asian children living in poverty, compared to 24% of white children.
Academics and advocates link the rise in poverty directly to austerity policies enacted by the Conservative government between 2010 and 2024. Professor Jonathan Bradshaw, an emeritus professor of social policy at the University of York, identified three key welfare restriction measures as major contributors: the benefit cap, restrictions to housing benefit, and the "two-child limit" policy, which restricts welfare payments for third and subsequent children.
A spokesperson for the Labour government, which took office last July, said it is committed to ensuring "every child gets the best start in life," pledging measures such as investing £500 million in family hubs and expanding free school meals. However, the government faces a significant challenge in balancing its promise to improve public services with its commitment not to raise taxes for working people.
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