John Battle Backs End Child Poverty Campaign

John Battle MP demanded that the Government ends child poverty as he signed up to the “Keep the promise” campaign”. He called on people to back the campaign and demand a better future for children in Leeds West.

The campaign is being run by End Child Poverty, which is mobilising public support to ensure the Government keeps its promise to end child poverty. Without urgent investment in the next year any progress on child poverty is at risk. The charity is asking people to sign an online petition, campaign locally, and attend the largest ever event to end child poverty, in London on October the 4th this year.

John Battle said: “We are one of the richest countries in the world, yet we have higher rates of child poverty than many other countries. Child poverty robs people of the opportunities to succeed in education and in the workplace. We can see the damage poverty does for children and our country. Please join me, support the campaign and help end child poverty.”

In Leeds West 27% of children live on very low incomes, dependent on out of work benefits. Across Yorkshire and the Humber 29% of children live below the poverty line. Across the UK 3.9m children, approximately 1 in 3, live in poverty, one of the worst rates in Europe. In 1999 the Government pledged to eradicate child poverty. Since then 600,000 children have been lifted out of poverty, however, much more needs to be done in order to achieve the goal.

Hilary Fisher, Director of End Child Poverty, said: “We’re delighted to have the support for Keep the Promise campaign of John Battle. It’s vital that people from Leeds get involved by signing the online petition and attending the London event. This is a historic opportunity for us all to demonstrate to the Government and all political parties that child poverty is no longer acceptable in our country. We can make a difference to the lives of millions of children and their families.”

Research has shown that poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life. Children from poor homes are more likely to leave school earlier with fewer qualifications and therefore fewer employment prospects. Only 9% of children in the poorest fifth of the population attend university by the age of 23 compared to 46% of those in the wealthiest.
Poverty also impacts on health. Children from poor backgrounds are born too small, with a lower average birth weight. Low birth weight is closely associated with infant death and chronic disease later in life.

Members of the public who want to support the End Child Poverty campaign by signing the online petition, campaigning locally or by attending the London event should visit www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/promise

John Battle MP 04 July 2008